In a dramatic shift U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Plan for Expanded Social Media Vetting. Thousands of international students are affected as the U.S. State Department has paused the scheduling of new student visa interviews worldwide. The move, made official via a diplomatic cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes as the Trump administration pushes for tougher immigration policies and expanded social media vetting for all student visa applicants. The suspension, confirmed by multiple sources including Politico, Bloomberg, and The Associated Press, targets F, M, and J visa categories—covering academic, vocational, and exchange programs.