As President Donald Trump has softened his stance on Chinese students and said Wednesday that Chinese students would be welcome in US colleges and universities, it is anticipated that the temporary restriction on international student visa applications would be lifted soon. In the US-China trade deal, the Trump administration has agreed to accept Chinese students, as Trump announced on Truth Social: “We will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities.”Trump also announced that he had always been in favor of admitting foreign students to the US as that helps US schools and universities as well. “We have 500,000 students coming in from China,” Trump said.

Pause on all visa interviews for social media vetting

All US embassies and consular sections were asked to pause all visa interviews for the time being by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The reason cited was a preparation for an extensive social media vetting. “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional students of exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel (separate telegram), which we anticipate in the coming days,” the cable said. Earlier this week, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce suggested that the process would open up soon and students should continue to apply. “People should watch for those spaces to be open, should continue to apply. This is not going to be a lengthy or an ongoing dynamic,” Bruce told reporters. “It was meant for a specific, almost an administrative adjustment.”She said the interview pause was to ensure embassies and consulates knew what to expect in terms of additional vetting. “And that process, we were told, would be rapid,” Bruce said.