Update on Pause in Visa Processing and Social Media Vetting

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This message was originally sent to international students and scholars by email on June 25, 2025.

Dear International Huskies,

Greetings from the International Student and Scholar Services at UConn!  I’m writing with some updates on the pause in visa interview appointments we are experiencing at U.S. consular posts around the world and with a request for all students to share the status of their visa applications with the ISSS.

On June 18, 2025 the Department of State released an Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants where they indicate that their “overseas posts will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications soon. ”  This is welcome news as I know that many of you have been waiting several weeks with no visa interview appointments available, so this is a welcome announcement.  They also announced that when interview appointments resume, “applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public’.” For those who have applied for a visa to the U.S. in the past this is a change to be aware of and you should be sure to follow all instructions from the consular post prior to your interview date.

There have been several recent news reports related to these changes, that you can review online in the Washington Post and Politico among other outlets.  One of the biggest changes to visa processing is that all F or J visa applicants who after interviewing and are eligible for the visa, will now have their visa “refused” due to 221G for additional administrative processing while the applicant sets their social media accounts to “public” and the consular officials perform a thorough review of the applicants entire online presence, not just social media activity.  In the past not all visa applicants were refused for 221G administrative processing, but this will be more common going forward.

Please see below for some next steps for students and J-1 scholars as well as some resources you should review prior to any visa interview.

Has your visa been issued?
Many students shared that their visa applications were approved, and their visas were issued.  This is terrific news, and we want to know about it.  If your visa has been approved and issued, please report this to ISSS by visiting https://international.global.uconn.edu/get-started/ and select “Step Six: Report Visa Approval”.  J-1 visiting research scholars and professors can share this with international@uconn.edu.

Are you experiencing visa delays or was your visa refused?
If you are experiencing administrative processing lasting more than 2 weeks or if your visa was refused due to 214b or another reason please report this to ISSS by visiting https://international.global.uconn.edu/get-started/ and select “Step Five: Report Visa Delays/Denials”.  This information can help us advise you how to move forward and we can use this anonymous data to advocate nationally for international students in the visa application process.

If your visa is refused, you are eligible to submit another visa application.  Sometimes a visa is denied if the applicant was not adequately prepared for the first interview or was overly nervous.  It is possible to overcome the denial if you make another application. J-1 visiting research scholars and professors can share this with international@uconn.edu.

 

Visa Application Resources

 

Best regards,

Arthur

___________

Arthur Galinat (pronounce my name)

(he/him/his)
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)

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