Seoul: The U.S. Embassy in South Korea appears to have paused scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants amid reports of Washington preparing to require social media vetting for such applicants. The embassy's website no longer shows available dates for those seeking to schedule interviews for student visas, according to posts on online student communities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, U.S. news outlet Politico earlier reported that the Donald Trump administration ordered U.S. Embassies and consular offices to halt new interviews for student visa applicants as it considers requiring all such applicants to undergo social media vetting. This decision was reportedly based on a cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has yet to clarify whether it has outright suspended scheduling new interviews. However, the embassy noted that scheduling for non-immigrant visa interviews is flexible, and visa applicants can continue to submit their applications.