U.S. Department of State Pauses New Visa Issuance
On May 27, 2025, ISSS was made aware that the U.S. Department of State temporarily paused all new F-1/J-1 visa appointments while they review its procedures related to social media screening as part of the visa application process. The U.S. consulates and embassies have also paused conducting and scheduling visa interviews for dependents applying for F-2 and J-2 visas. ISSS is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. While we understand that the pause is temporary, no specific timeline has been issued for when appointments will resume for new interviews.
A pause on issuance of student visas by U.S. consulates does not impact the status of students currently in the United States. It also does not impact students outside the U.S. who currently have a valid visa in their passport.
Until more information is available, we strongly advise current University of Utah international students and scholars on F-1 or J-1 status to reconsider any international travel plans if they will need to apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa to return to the U.S.
Disclaimer
This news is not a substitute for legal advice nor international student advisors are immigration lawyers. For complex situations, we encourage individuals to discuss with an immigration attorney. The International Student and Scholar Services provides a list of immigration attorneys as a resource. The University of Utah does not recommend or endorse any particular immigration attorney(s). Individuals are responsible for selecting and vetting the attorney of their choice for their particular legal needs.