The US Embassy in Kuwait clarified, in response to circulating reports of potential “changes” to US visa policy, that what is being circulated “does not reflect a new policy, but rather falls within long-standing procedures.”
In a statement received by Al-Rai, the embassy stated that “all applicants for US visas are subject to security screenings aimed at protecting American citizens,” stressing that this procedure “is a common sovereign practice followed by most countries to ensure the safety of their territories.”
The embassy emphasized that “the US government always seeks to verify the identity of applicants, the reasons for their visit, and their plans while in the US.”
The statement noted that since 2019, visa applicants have been required to provide their social media handles on their application forms.
The embassy added that consular interview schedules are subject to periodic adjustments to ensure consular staff have sufficient time to review applications in accordance with US laws.
The statement concluded by urging those wishing to travel to the United States to continue submitting their applications, emphasizing the importance of submitting applications well in advance of their anticipated travel date.
This came following reports that the Trump administration has temporarily paused new visa interview appointments for international students and exchange visitors.
The pause, announced via an internal State Department cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to allow time to expand social media screening for applicants under F, M, and J visa categories.
This halt applies only to new appointments, not to students who already have interviews scheduled. The duration of the pause remains unclear.
The move affects students applying for the F-1 visa (academic study), J-1 visa (exchange programs), and M-1 visa (vocational training). It comes at a time when the U.S. is seeing record-high international student enrollment—1.13 million in the 2023–2024 academic year, with India and China as the top source countries.
Harvard University recently lost approval to enroll new international students amid ongoing tensions with the administration. Universities like NYU, Northeastern, and Columbia enroll tens of thousands of international students, who make up a significant share of their student populations.
It remains unclear how this pause will affect students already in the U.S. needing visa renewals, particularly those in long-term programs like PhDs.
