The United States government has suspended the scheduling of new U.S. student visa interviews globally, including in Nigeria, as it moves to implement expanded social media vetting for international applicants.
The policy, directed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is part of a broader immigration and higher education crackdown under the Trump administration.
According to a diplomatic cable dated May 27, 2025, Rubio ordered U.S. consular sections to halt any further appointment capacity for F, M, and J visas until further notice as reported by Politico.
“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,” Rubio said.
However, visa interviews already scheduled will proceed as planned.
This development compounds difficulties for Nigerian applicants, who are already affected by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria’s earlier suspension of the visa renewal dropbox service. All applicants are now required to attend in-person interviews, further increasing waiting time.
Part of a Broader Policy Shift
The move to suspend U.S. student visa interviews, comes amid intensified efforts by the Trump administration to reshape immigration policies, particularly in higher education.
U.S. universities are facing pressure to end race-conscious admission policies, with the administration citing “equity” and “national interest” concerns.
Just last week, Pan-Atlantic Kompass reported that the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, effectively barring the prestigious institution from enrolling international students.
The revocation followed Harvard’s refusal to provide behavioral records of its international student population, as requested by the federal government.
While the university battles the decision in court, a federal judge issued a ruling last Thursday preventing the U.S. government from terminating the legal status of foreign students while litigation is ongoing.
Rubio Signals Continued Revocations
Speaking before Congress last Tuesday, Secretary Rubio confirmed that thousands of student visas had already been revoked under the administration’s directive.
“We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities,” he said.
“A visa is a privilege, not a right.”
These measures have sparked concern among international students, university officials, and human rights advocates who argue the administration is undermining U.S. higher education’s global standing and turning away talented individuals.
International students contribute over $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy, according to the Department of Commerce. U.S. universities, especially public institutions, rely heavily on this demographic to support academic programs and research.
As of the time of this reporting, the State Department has not provided any updates for the resumption of new U.S. student visa interviews appointments as applicants are advised to monitor embassy updates and prepare for potential delays in securing visas for the upcoming academic year.
