Latest news with #MichaelDoorley
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Irish J1 students issued with stark warning over social media posts
Thousands of Irish J1 students have been warned to delete any social media posts 'that wouldn't please the American situation' if travelling stateside this summer. It comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told officials to stop scheduling appointments with student visa applicants as they prepare to implement a social media vetting process. Those who completed the application process to travel this year won't be affected, nor those with a scheduled embassy interview. Pic:But one of the travel companies that facilitates the visa programme has urged students to take precautions. On RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Michael Doorley of Sayit Travel warned that anyone with 'social [media] activity that wouldn't please the American situation, just delete [the history]'. In Donald Trump's second term as US president, there have been multiple reports of European tourists being detained at the borders of the US. Mr Doorley also said that this year was the first time he had ever had to issue such safety advice to J1 students.
The Journal
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Irish government watching J1 visa situation 'closely' but says applications are still open
THE DEPARTMENT OF Foreign Affairs has said that while it is 'aware of reports' that the US has instructed its diplomatic missions to pause appointments for interviews in certain visa categories, including J1 student visas, it understands that existing appointments in Ireland haven't been cancelled. A spokesperson told The Journal that it further understands that new J1 visa applications can still be submitted. They added that DFA officials have been in contact with the US embassy on this matter, in order to 'assess possible impact on our citizens, in particular on students planning to travel in the coming months.' 'We will continue to monitor this unfolding situation very closely,' the DFA spokesperson added. They further said that it is important to note that US immigration policy 'is a matter for the US authorities'. Roughly 5,000 Irish students avail of the J1 visa programme every summer. Speaking on RTÉ' Radio One's Morning Ireland this morning, Michael Doorley, the owner of the Sayit Travel agency, said that Irish students who have already received their J1 visas for the United States should not be impacted. Advertisement He added that he has spoken to students currently in the US, who haven't experienced any issues. Doorley said that 'practically all' of the students intending to travel to the US this summer are already through, so this pause on interviews won't have a big impact on students this year. It's been reported that US embassies around the world have been told that social media vetting for student and foreign exchange visa applicants will be ramped up. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that guidance is to be issued on the screening process, and that interviews should be halted until a review on how this process will work has been completed. Doorley today said that his travel agency is issuing advice to students for the first time about their social media use while in the US. He said that if students have a 'history on their mobile phones, of some, maybe, social activity that wouldn't please the American situation, just delete it or whatever.' Doorley added that students are vital to the tourism sector in many places in America and highly valued by employers. Trinity College said that it will be in contact with any students travelling to study in the US in the coming autumn, and will offer meetings with them to discuss any concerns they may have. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Most Irish J1 students unaffected by US move to halt interviews for visas
Most Irish students who have applied for J1 visas to work in the United States this summer will be unaffected by the US government's suspension of visa interviews for foreign students, according to travel experts. Embassies and consulates have been ordered to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants as the US State Department prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students. Travel firms who help to administer J1 visas for Irish students said the vast majority of students have had their applications processed, while those with scheduled interviews at the US embassy are exempt from the pause. About 5,000 Irish students are expected to travel on J1 visas this summer, a similar number to last year. READ MORE A cable from the US State Department to embassies – reported by Reuters – states that it is 'conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and, based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants'. Michael Doorley, owner of SayIt Travel, who has been organising J1 visa applications for more than 20 years, said the vast majority of summer workers can breathe a sigh of relief. 'J1 students are pretty much done and dusted by this stage,' said. 'If you're on the record as having applied – our understanding is that applicants with existing interview appointments should still be able to attend those.' Sheelagh Daly, director of sales for the Council on International Educational Exchange, agreed that only a very small number of J1 students who have not yet applied may be affected. 'It is an evolving situation. We expect to get update guidance [on student visa applications] over the coming days, so we'll be monitoring that closely, but we're confident that almost all J1 students are on track.' [ Irish students' J1 plans in the Trump era: 'We said we wouldn't go ahead. It just isn't safe' Opens in new window ] Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), the national representative body for students, acknowledged 'growing concerns around political expression, social media monitoring, and student safety'. It called on both US and Irish authorities to provide 'clear, consistent information to protect students' rights and ensure their safety while abroad'. Chris Clifford, AMLÉ's president, said Irish students should not be discouraged from pursuing cultural exchange programmes. 'Those who have already applied can proceed with confidence. For those intending to apply, we recommend acting quickly and maintaining contact with your provider. AMLÉ will continue to support and advocate for all students involved in the J1 programme,' he said. Last March, consular officers were first told to scrutinise the social media content of some applicants for student and other types of visas. That directive said that officers need to refer certain student and exchange visitor visa applicants to the 'fraud prevention unit' for a 'mandatory social media check'. [ Irish J1 visa students urged to be informed of potential risks of 'activism' in US Opens in new window ] In recent months, US president Donald Trump 's administration has spoken about cancelling student visas, revoking green cards and scrutinising the social media history of foreign visitors, mainly in the context of outrage around Israel's war in Gaza. Mr Doorley of SayIt Travel said it has advised J1 students to be 'careful' about their use of social media. Despite the political atmosphere in the US, he said demand was as strong as ever for J1 visas. 'It's still a rite of passage for students,' he said. 'We filled our quota and still had a waiting list of about 150 students.'
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Current J1 visa holders should not be hit by US pause
Irish students who have already received their J1 visas for the US this summer should not be impacted by the pause scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students. Around 5,000 Irish students avail of the J1 initiative every summer. The owner of a travel company which specialises in student travel and visas said that very few students are at the beginning of their visa applications. Michael Doorley said his company, SAYIT Travel, has also spoken to students who are currently in the US and said they have experienced no problems travelling there. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said that "practically all the students who intend to travel to America are through, and very few are lined up to start their process. So it won't really affect very much of the Irish students this year." The Trump administration ordered US embassies around the world to pause scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students. The State Department instructed embassies abroad, including in Ireland, to halt student or exchange visitor visa appointments - such as for F, M and J visa programmes - until further guidance is issued. Students who have already scheduled their embassy interviews will be exempt from the pause. However, those applying in the coming days may experience a delay in the application process. Mr Doorley said it is not yet certain how the pause will affect students who might be planning to travel to the US in the autumn for undergraduate or post-graduate studies. He also said that for the first time his company is also including advisories for students about their social media use while in the US, following the advice already issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs updated travel advice for Irish citizens visiting the US, warning of possible "serious consequences" for those who fail to cooperate with border officials or provide inaccurate information. Officials said that failure to adhere to immigration law could lead to refusal of entry at the border, detention and possible removal from the US. Mr Doorley said the news is "out there for students to understand if they have history on their mobile phones, of some maybe social activity that wouldn't please the American situation, just delete or whatever." He said students travelling to the US for summer work are vital for the tourist industry there, adding that he had met six representatives from New England yesterday, who told him how crucial the J1 students are for tourism.
