The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has directed American embassies around the world to halt new appointments for student visa interviews, as part of efforts to increase social media background checks for applicants.
In a memo sent to U.S. embassies and consulates, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the pause will remain in effect “until further guidance is issued.”
According to U.S. media reports, the move affects those applying for student and foreign exchange visas and could significantly impact visa processing timelines. However, students who already have scheduled appointments will not be affected and may proceed with their interviews.
The directive is likely to affect many Ghanaian students hoping to study in the United States, as they are required to attend visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Accra before traveling. Each year, hundreds of Ghanaian students enroll in American universities, contributing to a long-standing academic and cultural exchange between the two countries.
The memo also revealed that the U.S. is preparing to expand its vetting process to include stricter checks on applicants’ social media activity. It did not specify what kind of content or behavior would be flagged during this screening.
A spokesperson for the State Department, Tammy Bruce, defended the decision, stating: “We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
The decision comes amid growing tension between the Trump administration and some top U.S. universities, particularly over issues like pro-Palestinian protests and alleged antisemitism on campus. President Trump has accused several elite institutions of having discriminatory admission policies and promoting anti-Israel sentiments.
The administration has previously taken aggressive steps against universities, including suspending the visas of some international students and cutting funding to certain institutions—moves that U.S. courts have occasionally blocked.
Harvard University, which has a large population of international students (over 25%), has been a primary target. The Trump administration recently tried to bar Harvard from enrolling foreign students or hosting visiting researchers, but the decision was blocked by a federal judge.
If these stricter visa measures are allowed to continue, they could pose serious challenges for Ghanaian students and others from around the world planning to pursue higher education in the U.S.