US pauses new student visas |
The US government under orders from President Donald Trump has for now stopped interviews for international students who have already secured admissions to US universities. This is bound to also impact Indian students. US embassies will not undertake new visa interview appointments for students and exchange visitors. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly said the State Department plans to expand the screening of student applicants’ social media. Some reports clarified that no new visa interviews for foreign students will be scheduled. But scheduled interviews will be allowed. Instructions issued to Embassies talk about conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants. Generally international students are given the F-1 student visa. But some get J-1 visa in exchange or scholarship programmes. Professors participating in exchange programmes; and interns also get J-1 visa. The M-1 visa is granted to students participating in training programmes in the US.
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