The Trump administration has urged American embassies worldwide to halt new appointments for student visa interviews as part of steps to strengthen social media background checks for applicants.
In a memo to US embassies and consulates, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the delay will last “until further guidance is issued.”
According to US media reports, the shift impacts anyone applying for student and foreign exchange visas, and it may have a substantial influence on visa processing timeframes. Students who already have appointments will be unaffected and can continue with their interviews.
The decision is expected to have an impact on many Ghanaian students who want to study in the United States, as they must first attend visa interviews at the US Embassy in Accra. Every year, hundreds of Ghanaian students join in American colleges, contributing to the two countries’ longstanding intellectual and cultural interchange.
The document also stated that the United States is planning to broaden its vetting procedure to include more stringent checks on candidates’ social media activities. It was unclear what type of information or behaviour would be highlighted during this screening.
Tammy Bruce, a State Department official, defended the decision, saying, “We take the process of vetting who comes into the country very seriously, and we will continue to do so.”
The decision comes as tensions between the Trump administration and some of America’s premier institutions rise, notably over issues such as pro-Palestinian protests and alleged antisemitism on campus. President Trump has accused numerous prestigious colleges of having discriminatory admissions policies and encouraging anti-Israel prejudice.
The government has already taken harsh measures against universities, including suspending the visas of some overseas students and reducing funding to specific institutions—moves that US courts have occasionally stopped.
Harvard University, which has a substantial proportion of overseas students (more than 25%), has been a particular focus. The Trump administration recently attempted to prohibit Harvard from enrolling international students or hosting visiting researchers, but a federal judge rejected the order.
If these harsher visa requirements are permitted to remain in place, Ghanaian students and anyone from across the world who wish to pursue higher education in the United States may face significant obstacles.
