The US State Department has instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to pause new student visa appointments as it develops guidance to expand “social media screening and vetting” to all applicants for student visas,

In recent years, the number of Indian students choosing the US for higher education has sharply increased, with the US now second only to Canada.

International education advocates are raising concerns over the administration’s decision to pause visa interviews ahead of the new policy rollout.