Media outlets have reported that U.S. embassies and consulates have been instructed not to open any new F or J student and scholar visa appointments until the U.S. Department of State provides additional guidance on screening and vetting the social media accounts of visa applicants.
The U.S. Department of State has not provided official notice to UC Santa Cruz at this time. We will monitor the situation and update the Immigration Guidance webpage as we learn more. The Division of Global Engagement advises caution if you are currently in the U.S. and have international travel plans, especially for F and J international students and J scholars, whom this reported federal guidance directly impacts. If you travel outside the U.S. during the pause and need to renew your visa, you may experience extended delays to your return, potentially affecting your ability to continue your studies or work.
What you can do:
- Attend any F/J student visa appointment you may have already scheduled.
- If your visa appointment is cancelled, please meet with your ISSP/IFSS advisor to discuss next steps.
- Schedule your visa appointment as quickly as possible once appointments resume. This temporary suspension may cause delays in visa processing.