Trump administration halts scheduling of new student visa appointments

The move comes as the Trump administration has sought to ramp up deportations and revoke student visas as part of its wide-ranging efforts to fulfill his hardline immigration agenda.

File Picture of the Embassy of the United States of America in Ballsbridge in Dublin. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

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 students, according to an internal cable.

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 all embassies abroad, including Ireland, to halt the scheduling of such visa appointments.