US Policy Shifts on International Student Visas Create Widespread Uncertainty
5 June 2025
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has taken several actions that significantly impact international students, exchange visitors, and the universities that enrol them. These measures include the suspension of appointments for embassy interviews, increased national security vetting, and aggressive actions against higher education institutions.
Global Suspension of Embassy Interviews for Student Visas On May 27, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a global suspension of new appointments for F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visas at US embassies and consulates. Although existing appointments are proceeding as scheduled, new applicants now face indefinite delays with no clear timeline for resumption.
The State Department has framed this decision as a temporary measure to implement enhanced national security protocols. Expanded social media screening for F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa applicants is expected, with a focus on those suspected of involvement in any anti-US activities or protest movements. It is also anticipated that consular officers will be required to refer certain applicants to the Fraud Prevention Unit for mandatory social media checks, with particular scrutiny for individuals from countries deemed “high-risk.”
Revocation of Harvard’s SEVP Certification Harvard University has emerged as a focal point of the administration’s crackdown. On May 22, 2025, DHS revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), citing alleged failures in record-keeping and accusations of promoting antisemitism and connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit challenging the revocation. A federal judge subsequently issued a temporary restraining order, allowing the university to continue enrolling international students while the legal case moves forward. However, the court’s action offered only temporary relief. If Harvard ultimately loses its certification, affected students may face the need to transfer institutions or change visa status—an outcome that could lead to significant disruption and financial strain.
Further escalating the situation, on June 4th, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study at Harvard University. The order also directs the Secretary of State “to consider revoking existing F, M, or J visas for current Harvard students who meet the Proclamation’s criteria”. The administration has justified the move by citing concerns over Harvard’s alleged history of troubling foreign affiliations and radicalism. While the proclamation does not formally revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification, it effectively jeopardizes the university’s ability to enrol international students by barring their entry into the United States for the upcoming academic year. Further, it threatens the status of current international students at Harvard, placing them in a state of legal and personal uncertainty.
Targeted Crackdown on Chinese Students Aligned with its “America First, Not China” doctrine, the administration is also taking aim at Chinese nationals. The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have announced plans to revoke or deny visas for Chinese students, especially those with perceived ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive fields. As such, future applicants from China and Hong Kong will likely be subject to further heightened scrutiny.
Broader Legal Context and Timeline
The current crackdown follows a series of escalating actions. As early as January 2025, the Trump administration indicated a desire to reframe academic visas as a national security risk. By March, reports emerged that consulates in “high-risk” countries were already slowing student visa processing. Further, the I-20s of numerous international students have been affected without clear explanation, leaving Designated School Officials (DSOs) with the difficult task of staying abreast of constantly shifting regulations and their impact on the international students enrolled at their schools. Thankfully, just days before the visa appointment freeze, a federal judge in California blocked the administration from terminating the legal status of currently enrolled international students, issuing an injunction that prevents arrests or detentions based on immigration status while related lawsuits proceed.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The immediate consequence of these policy shifts is widespread uncertainty for both students and universities. While legal challenges have provided temporary protection in some cases, the outcome of Harvard’s legal battle may set a precedent with far-reaching consequences for other institutions and students alike.
For students planning to begin studies in Fall 2025—especially those abroad without a scheduled visa appointment—they may be unable to arrive on time, if at all if appointment scheduling does not resume soon. Students in countries with long wait times or fewer consular resources are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the suspension and delays.We urge international students to be in constant communication with the DSOs at their schools. Universities may need to adapt quickly, and issue revised I-20s, reconsider offers to students lacking visa appointments, or assist students with deferral or online alternatives. If you are directly affected by these developments, you should consult the DSO at your university and contact us at email@example.com.
Christi Hufford Jackson
Partner and Head of the US Practice