Singaporeans can still apply for US student visa despite new appointment restrictions

A spokesperson from the U.S. Embassy in Singapore said on Wednesday that the embassy's appointment system is "dynamic" and adjusts to ensure consular officers have sufficient time to thoroughly review applications in accordance with U.S. law.

"At this time, applicants may continue to submit applications, as the consular section constantly adjusts schedules to allow for sufficient time to vet cases before them," they said, as reported by The Strait Times.

Reports from Politico, The Guardian, NBC News and Reuters on May 28 said the U.S. Department of State instructed embassies and consulates to pause scheduling visa interviews for prospective international students. Further details are anticipated in the coming days.

In the cable, first reported by Politico, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said already scheduled appointments will proceed as planned, but any available slots that have not been booked should be removed.

"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.

Secretary of State 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.

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.

The expanded social media vetting will require consular sections to modify their operations, processes and allocation of resources, according to the cable, which 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 U.S. citizens, immigrant visas and fraud prevention, according to Reuters.

While the Singaporea's U.S. Embassy did not specify whether it has seen a surge in inquiries following the new instruction, it noted that social media screening has long been part of the U.S. visa process.

The spokesperson added that since 2019, visa applicants have been required to provide their social media handles on application forms, and all available information is used during screening, according to The Strait Times.

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 U.S. foreign policy and accusing them of being pro-Hamas.

Trump's critics have called the effort an attack on free speech rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.