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BreakingNews.ie
28-05-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
What Trump's changes to student visas mean for Irish J1 applicants this summer
US President Donald Trump 's administration has ordered its missions abroad to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants as the State Department prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign student s, according to an internal cable seen by Reuters on Tuesday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in the cable that the department plans to issue updated guidance on social media vetting of student and exchange visitor applicants after a review is completed and advised consular sections to halt the scheduling of such visa appointments. What does it mean for Irish students who've applied for J1s? In the cable, first reported by Politico, Rubio said appointments that have already been scheduled can proceed under the current guidelines, but available appointments not already taken should be pulled down. That should mean if you are one of the estimated 5,000 Irish students travelling to the US on J1s and who have already been interviewed for this summer, you are likely to be unaffected. Advertisement It should also mean that those with pre-booked appointments are likely to be processed. However, it is worthwhile contacting the likes of Usit, which specialises in J1 visas for students. The problem is with those who have yet to make a booking for interview, as these have been paused. "The Department 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," the cable said. A senior State Department official confirmed the accuracy of the cable. Advertisement What might the new vetting regime entail? The cable did not spell out what the vetting would look for and State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment on reports of the cable. However, she said the US will use "every tool" to vet anyone who wants to enter the United States. "We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that's coming here, whether they are student s or otherwise," Bruce said. Trump administration officials have said student visa and green card holders are subject to deportation over their support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, calling their actions a threat to US foreign policy and accusing them of being pro-Hamas. The Trump administration had already enhanced its vetting of student social media, according to a report by the Guardian in March, which linked the move to a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses. Advertisement In April, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that it would consider "antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests". The expanded social media vetting will require consular sections to modify their operations, processes and allocation of resources, according to the cable. It advises the sections going forward to take into consideration the workload and resource requirements of each case before scheduling them. The cable also advises consular sections to remain focused on services for US citizens, immigrant visas and fraud prevention. - (Additional reporting: Reuters)
Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: Trump is pausing new student visa appointments. What does this mean for the J1?
What's happening? US president Donald Trump's administration has ordered its missions abroad to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants. It comes as the US State Department prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students, according to an internal cable. The order was issued on Tuesday, signed by the US secretary of state Marco Rubio. How will it work? The cable, first reported by Politico, states: 'The department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor visa applicants.' Officials plan to issue guidance on 'expanded social media vetting for all such applicants'. Under the screening process, consular officers would examine applicants' posts, shares, and comments across platforms such as Instagram, X, and TikTok for content they deem to be "threatening" to national security. What does it mean for Irish students? It is believed those who have already received their J1 visas for the US this summer are unlikely to be impacted. The pause is on new interviews, but many of the approximately 5,000 Irish students who typically go on J1s to the US will have already been interviewed. Students who have already scheduled their embassy interviews will be exempt from the pause. What have J1 visa organisers said? The owner of SAYIT Travel, a company that specialises in J1 visas and summer jobs for Irish students, has urged any new applicants to be aware of their social media comments. Michael Doorley told RTÉ it was "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". Usit, which also specialises in international recruitment and work abroad programmes, has been contacted for comment What has the Government done so far? The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday announced a partnership with Usit to assist those going on a J1. Tánaiste Simon Harris said: "The J1 experience is the opportunity of a lifetime for thousands of young people but it is important that students take the time to research where they are travelling to and ensure they comply with the laws abroad." In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "We are aware of reports that the US has instructed its diplomatic missions globally to pause new appointments for interviews for certain categories [of] visas, including student visas. "It is important to recall that US immigration policy is a matter for the US authorities. "DFA officials have been in contact with the US embassy on the matter, 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. "Our understanding at this stage is that existing appointments have not been cancelled and that new applicants can continue to submit applications." What are TDs saying? The Social Democrats have said the move was "deeply worrying". Jen Cummins, who is the party's spokesperson on higher education, said: 'This decision marks a troubling step backwards for America as a global leader in higher education. Universities should be spaces where young people are encouraged to think critically, exchange ideas, and challenge the status quo, without fear that a tweet or a comment will threaten their academic future or ability to travel to the US. This deeply worrying measure will be of concern to international and Irish J1 students, as well as anyone who values freedom of thought and open debate. She added: 'Travelling to the US on a J1 visa has been a right of passage for countless Irish students over the years. The Irish Government must now use every possible diplomatic channel with Washington to have this deeply unjust decision reversed.' Labour spokeswoman Senator Laura Harmon said many students were now "in limbo" after the decision. "We've heard many students are already questioning whether they should proceed with their plans to go to the US. They're aware of the political history of the Trump administration and the tone it has taken in the past. "It's important to remember that this isn't just about logistics — it's about trust and confidence." Read More Trump administration halts scheduling of new student visa appointments
