U.S. halts new student visa appointments, dealing blow to Kenyan applicants

Kenyan students hoping to commence their studies in the United States have been left in limbo following a decision by the U.S. State Department to suspend all new student visa appointments worldwide.

The suspension is part of an effort to implement broader "social media screening and vetting" measures for all student visa applicants, as outlined in a diplomatic communication.

A diplomatic cable obtained by CNN reveals that U.S. embassies and consulates around the world have been ordered to halt the scheduling of new student visa interviews until further notice.

This directive is part of a wider reassessment of the screening process for student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visas, with a particular focus on applicants' social media presence.

As of 2025, approximately 4,500 Kenyan students are pursuing their education in the United States, based on recent data tracking African student enrollment trends.

Kenya holds the third position among African nations sending students to the U.S., following Nigeria and Ghana, with an estimated 4,507 Kenyan students enrolled in American institutions during the 2024/2025 academic year.

According to the diplomatic cable, "The State Department is currently reviewing its procedures for processing student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applications and intends to introduce broader social media screening measures based on the outcome of that review."

Since 2019, both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants have been required to submit their social media handles as part of the application process.

This data has been used to identify possible security risks, with some individuals, particularly those flagged for suspected antisemitic content, undergoing heightened scrutiny.

However, the specific changes to be implemented under the expanded vetting process have yet to be disclosed.

This latest development arrives just as international students gear up for the upcoming fall semester.

The suspension is expected to cause significant disruptions to the visa application timeline, which usually intensifies between late spring and early summer.

It is during this period that students finalize admissions, pay enrollment deposits, and receive essential documents needed to schedule their visa interviews.

"Right now is precisely when students submit their visa applications to begin classes in August," said Charles Kuck, an attorney representing students impacted by past visa cancellations.

He added, "The timing is deliberate. This move is aimed at severely disrupting foreign student enrollment for the fall semester and negatively impacting numerous universities that depend on these students."

The Institute of International Education reports that more than 1.1 million international students were enrolled at U.S. institutions during the 2023–2024 academic year, with many universities relying heavily on the tuition fees these students provide.

The diplomatic cable clarifies that previously scheduled visa appointments will still proceed as planned. However, any available but unbooked slots will be removed from the scheduling system.

Consular offices have been directed to prioritize services for U.S. citizens, immigrant visa processing, and efforts to prevent fraud.

The directive states, "Consular sections should remain focused on consular priorities, including services for U.S. citizens, immigrant visas, and fraud prevention."