*United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an internal cable, directs embassies and consulates worldwide to not allow ‘any additional student or exchange visa鈥� appointment capacity until further guidance is issued’

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As part of the continued harassment of foreign students in the American country, the United States (US) Government has directed its embassies and consulates worldwide to not allow 鈥渁ny additional student or exchange visa鈥� appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.鈥�

绿帽献妻 learnt US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Tuesday, May 27, 2025, ordered a suspension of student visa processing, as US President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration ramps up vetting of their social media, according to an internal cable.

US President Donald Trump

The latest development is targeted at international students, a major source of revenue for US universities, after Rubio had rescinded hundreds of visas.

The Trump administration also has continued to instigate moves to bar Harvard University from admitting any non-Americans, agency report said.

In a cable Rubio signed and seen by AFP, the Secretary of State noted that the State Department 鈥減lans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applications.鈥�

The cable suggested that the suspension could be brief, telling embassies to receive new guidance in the 鈥渃oming days,鈥� although US missions already frequently see major backlogs in processing applications.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, though did not comment directly on the cable, said that 鈥渨e take very seriously the process of vetting, who it is that comes into the country.鈥�

The Spokesperson also stated: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a goal, as stated by the President and Secretary Rubio, to make sure that people who are here understand what the law is, that they don鈥檛 have any criminal intent, that they are going to be contributors to the experience here, however short or long their status.”

On whether students seeking to study at US universities should expect visas to be ready before terms begin in the autumn, Bruce responded: 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to be applying for a visa, follow the normal process, the normal steps, (and) expect to be looked at.鈥�

It is recalled that

Rubio, last week, told a US Senate hearing that he has revoked 鈥渢housands鈥� of visas since Trump took office January 20 this year

Rubio has used an obscure law that allows the Secretary of State to remove foreigners for activities deemed counter to US foreign policy interests, report said.

It was gathered that the most visible targets have been students involved in “activism over Gaza”.

Hitherto, Trump administration officials have accused some students of anti-Semitism.

However, such charges have been strenuously denied by a number of the people targeted, according to report.

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