The Trump administration has left international students’ careers hanging by a thread after it placed a pause [read: indefinite] on student visa interviews. The order was issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the US prepares to “expand” its means for “screening and vetting” social media profiles. Affected students, along with those who have their interviews scheduled, took to Reddit to discuss what many are calling a crackdown on student visas. Posting anonymously, some even claimed their visas were rejected within seconds.
“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel, which we anticipate in the coming days,” the cable, signed by Rubio, states. Septel is State Department shorthand for ‘separate telegram’.
Earlier, the US said that it would neither admit nor tolerate the presence of the “world’s terrorist sympathisers”. An April 9 release by USCIS announced that “aliens” who support “antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah aka the Houthis” would not be allowed to set foot on American soil. It also mentioned that those involved in the harassment of Jewish individuals will also be barred from entering or staying in the US.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added that America will use “every tool in our tool chest to vet anyone coming in, who wants to come into this country”.
‘F1 visa got rejected in 10 seconds’
With the US now halting student visa interviews, thousands of students have been affected, including many from India. One student claimed their F1 visa was rejected at the Mumbai consulate before they could even finish answering the officer’s question.
“I was rejected today at counter 34 by an American lady. She only asked me why this uni?” the Redditor claimed, adding that they mentioned the programme and the course offered there.
They continued, “And while I was still answering, she had already printed the 214b slip!”
The Redditor applied to the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign for a Master’s in Information Management.
‘US denying student visas at record rate’
Another Redditor said that the US has been rejecting “F1 visas at record pace anyway”. “The USA has turned into a ‘go away we don’t want you’ country!”
“I think we can’t do anything now. Just process things as usual,” a third Redditor chimed in.
‘Loss of talent for US’
Many even agreed with one individual who said that the visa halt and revocations are a loss for the US. “What a loss of talent for the country,” wrote the individual on the discussion platform.
One claimed that the consular officers are “intentionally rejecting student visas,” while another frustrated individual went as far as to label the administration “absolute clowns” for pausing student visa interviews.
It is important to note that students with existing visa appointments will not be affected and may proceed with their application process.
