U.S. Embassy in Seoul Halts Student Visa Interviews Amid Social Media Screening Overhaul

SEOUL — The U.S. Embassy in South Korea has reportedly suspended scheduling new student visa interviews, a move tied to a U.S. government directive to implement mandatory social media screenings for students seeking to study in the United States.

According to reports circulating in student communities on May 28, individuals attempting to book visa interviews for U.S. study programs found no available dates, effectively blocking new appointments. The suspension aligns with a directive from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as reported by Politico. In a cable signed on May 27, Rubio instructed consular sections worldwide to pause additional student and exchange visitor visa interview scheduling until further guidance is provided in a forthcoming separate cable. The directive aims to prepare for expanded social media screening and verification of visa applicants.

However, interviews already scheduled are proceeding as planned, Politico reported. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul also conducted interviews as scheduled on May 28, according to sources.

As of 4 p.m. on May 28, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul had not explicitly confirmed whether it had suspended student visa interview bookings. A spokesperson stated only that “the Department of State’s nonimmigrant visa interview scheduling is fluid.” The embassy emphasized that visa applicants can still submit applications and that the consular section “continuously adjusts scheduling to ensure sufficient time to thoroughly review submitted applications.”

The embassy further noted that since 2019, the State Department has required visa applicants to provide social media information on both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms. “We utilize all available information in the visa adjudication and screening process,” the spokesperson added.

At Incheon Hi Hospital, Dr. Jeongho Lee, a local physician, expressed concern about the impact of the suspension on South Korean students planning to study abroad, reflecting anxieties felt by many in the academic community.

The temporary halt in visa interview scheduling underscores the U.S. government’s push to tighten vetting processes, though it has raised concerns among prospective students in South Korea navigating an already complex visa application system.

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