The Trump Administration has of late implemented significant changes affecting international students and US universities, creating considerable uncertainty for student visa holders and applicants, and education institutions.
The US State Department has paused scheduling new student visa interviews to implement expanded social media vetting procedures, affecting F, M and J visa applicants. Existing scheduled interviews are still proceeding.
This move follows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoking Harvard University’s certification to enroll foreign students, citing alleged failures in record-keeping and accusations of promoting antisemitism and ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The legal status of over 6,800 international students at Harvard, including approximately 788 Indian nationals, was immediately put at risk. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit challenging the revocation. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, allowing the university to continue enrolling international students while the case proceeds.
Timeline of Key Policy Actions Affecting Student Visa Holders
The Trump administration is taking a hardline approach to international students, tightening of immigration controls through academic channels.
The first major action came in January 2025, when the administration began discussing expanded vetting procedures for foreign students, including proposals for more intensive reviews of online activity and academic affiliations. While no formal suspension of student visa services was announced at that time, internal planning documents hinted at a desire to reframe the F and J visa categories as national security concerns.
In March 2025, reports emerged that several embassies had started slowing down the processing of new student visa appointments, especially in regions identified as “high-risk” for information and technology transfer. Although no official directive was issued to halt interviews at that point, anecdotal evidence from applicants and institutions suggested delays were growing.
On May 22, 2025, the administration made its most visible move by revoking Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The justification cited alleged failures to maintain proper records and accusations of promoting antisemitic rhetoric and ties to hostile foreign entities. The immediate impact was the potential loss of lawful immigration status for thousands of foreign students, including hundreds from India. Harvard responded by filing suit, and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order allowing the university to continue sponsoring international students while the case proceeds.
Just days later, on May 27, 2025, the US State Department confirmed it had paused the scheduling of new student visa interviews globally. The agency framed the decision as a temporary measure to implement enhanced social media screening for all applicants in the F, M and J visa categories. Although previously scheduled appointments are proceeding, students who had not yet secured interview slots now face indefinite delays.
Implications for Student Visa Holders
The visa landscape for international students is now marked by uncertainty and delay.
The freeze on new interview scheduling remains in place, with no firm timeline for resumption. Students planning to begin studies in Fall 2025 face serious logistical challenges, particularly those without current visa appointments or prior F-1 or J-1 status.
Harvard’s legal challenge has prevented immediate fallout for its current students, but the underlying issue is unresolved and could be applied elsewhere.
Students who have already received Form I-20s from Harvard should avoid making travel plans or incurring expenses until their visa status is confirmed. The potential for the university to lose SEVP certification again if the lawsuit fails would mean that those issued visas under the affected I-20s may no longer be in valid status. In that case, re-enrollment elsewhere or a change of status would be required, and that process could be both costly and disruptive.
The suspension of new student visa interview scheduling is already affecting students applying for Fall 2025 admission across the US, not just at Harvard. This pause is tied to the introduction of expanded social media background checks, and there is no confirmed timeline for resumption.
Students who have not yet secured visa appointments should prepare for potential delays that could impact their ability to arrive before program start dates. Consulates are continuing with interviews already scheduled, but newly issued appointments may not be possible until the new vetting protocols are in place.
Applicants in countries with long wait times or fewer consular resources are especially vulnerable to this disruption. Students with urgent timelines may want to explore backup plans, including deferment, attending online classes temporarily, or applying to institutions in other countries with more predictable entry policies.
University international offices will also need to adapt quickly. Institutions relying heavily on F-1 students for enrollment targets should anticipate ongoing volatility and factor this into their admissions strategies. Admissions offers to students without visa appointments may need to be reevaluated or deferred. Schools should also be prepared to issue updated I-20s or support letters if students must change their plans last minute.
Need assistance?
The United States has not closed the door entirely to international education, but the recent policy choices have made access far less predictable. For now, applicants and universities should prepare for increased scrutiny through the immigration process.
For specialist guidance on US visas, immigration routes and applications, contact our attorneys.
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
