Business Desk 
May 28, 2025
As tensions between the US and Harvard University seem not to be settling, the US government has decided to halt the scheduling of student visa appointments.
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday the expansion of social media monitoring of visa applicants, affecting foreign students willing to study in America.
When will US student visas reopen?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a memo, sent to diplomatic posts, that the student visa suspension will remain in effect "until further guidance is issued," The Associated Press noted.
It's pertinent to note that the decision comes as US President Donald Trump expressed concerns about prestigious universities in the US, including Harvard, which he believed were leaning too far left.
The memo instructed the US embassies to remove any unfilled appointments for US student visas from their calendars. This cessation does not encompass students whose appointments have already been scheduled, meaning they can still attend their planned interviews.
In line with the traditional method, foreign students are required to book interviews at an American embassy in their home country before receiving visa approval.
Having frozen millions of dollars in funding for universities and attempted to deport international students, the Trump administration has been critical of Harvard University since last April 2025.
The new US administration has also attempted to cancel Harvard University's ability to host international students, a move which was blocked by a federal judge.
