The Trump administration’s latest move to tighten visa rules for foreign students — including a proposal to screen their social media accounts — has sparked fresh concerns among thousands of Indian students aspiring to study in the United States.
Education experts say this increased scrutiny could discourage many, especially with reports suggesting that US embassies and consular sections have been asked to temporarily pause scheduling student visa interviews.
A recent Politico report says the Trump administration is gearing up to implement a sweeping social-media vetting policy for all foreign student applicants. In preparation for this, US embassies have been reportedly told to halt scheduling visa interviews for F, M, and J categories — the main types issued to international students and scholars.
The direct fallout? Delays in processing student visas. And for Indian students waiting to travel for the upcoming Fall intake, it could mean missing critical admission deadlines.
While the US State Department maintains that the move is part of its sovereign right to determine “who is coming in and why,” the timing has raised eyebrows. The new policy talk comes just days after the administration tried — unsuccessfully — to block Harvard University’s ability to enrol international students. The court stayed that attempt, but it has only added to the unpredictability surrounding US immigration rules.
Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the State Department, said in a briefing on May 28: “Every sovereign country has a right to know who is trying to come in... what they have been doing, and hopefully what they will be doing while they are here.”
That, however, isn’t much reassurance for students already facing visa queues, rising application costs and tight academic schedules.
With the new academic season just around the corner, the uncertainty is proving costly. “There are only so many visa slots available, and they're released in batches. If a student misses the slot due to delays, they might have to defer an entire year,” Dave adds.
Saurabh Arora, who runs University Living, a study-abroad services platform, according to Business Standard, points out that such visa disruptions don’t just impact students — US universities themselves could take a financial hit. “International students pay higher tuition fees. Many private universities rely heavily on that revenue,” he says.
And it’s not just tuition. From campus housing to local businesses, the presence of international students keeps a lot of small economies buzzing.
With the US tightening the tap, Indian students are now casting a wider net. Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and even Russia are becoming increasingly popular — despite language and cultural differences — mainly because of their smoother visa processes and clear post-study work options.
The numbers say it all. Germany saw a 68% jump in Indian students between 2022 and 2024, reaching 34,702. New Zealand reported a 354% spike — from just 1,605 in 2022 to 7,297 in 2024. Even Russia recorded a 59% increase, while Ireland saw a 49% rise.
At this point, the Trump administration hasn’t finalised the policy, but even the talk of sweeping social-media checks is enough to make many students nervous. Could a comment, like, or follow on social media cost them their study plans? No one knows for sure.
But what’s clear is this — in a post-COVID world where international education was slowly bouncing back, such uncertain signals could shift the balance of global student mobility. And for Indian students, the American dream might not feel as accessible as it once did.
