In a dramatic move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered embassies worldwide to pause student visa interview scheduling, pending new guidance on stricter social media vetting.

Outlined in a cable to diplomats, the directive affects F, M, and J visa categories, and is part of a broader Trump administration push to curb foreign student entry over national security and antisemitism concerns.

While previously booked interviews will proceed, new appointments are frozen, sparking alarm in academic circles. More than 1.1 million international students, primarily from India and China, attend US universities, many studying STEM fields.

Critics warn the move could be economically and culturally catastrophic, while supporters like Rubio argue it is vital to prevent disruptive political activism on campuses.

This comes as the White House also targets elite institutions like Harvard and the University of California, hinting at massive legal action ahead.