The US State Department ordered its embassies and consulates on Friday to resume processing Harvard University student and exchange visitor visas.
This came after a judge halted the US President Donald Trump’s latest effort to block foreign students from coming to this educational institution, VisaGuide.World reports.
The new changes replace the previous ones that urged embassies to deny visas to students and researchers going to Harvard, according to a report from CNN. The changes came after the US District Judge, Allison Burroughs, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).
Effective immediately, consular sections must resume processing of Harvard University student and exchange visitor visas. No such applications should be refused.
US Suspends New Student Visa Appointments
The Trump administration has introduced tighter rules in the past few months, particularly for immigration.
Last month, the US State Department suspended the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students wishing to study in the US. The new changes were announced by a US official.
Besides, it was also announced that authorities in the US are planning to expand the screening of applicants’ activity on social media.
Based on an official message signed by the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, obtained by the Associated Press revealed that the Debarment would soon start issuing new guidance on expanded social media vetting.
Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until the guidance is issued.
US to Revoke Visas of Chinese Students
Last month, the US State Department announced that it would revoke the visas of Chinese students pursuing their studies in the US.
The new changes were announced through a statement published by the US State Secretary, Marco Rubio.
Under President Trump’s leadership, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.
The US decision was criticized by authorities in China. In this regard, a spokesperson for the government of China, Mao Ning, said that the Trump administration is using national security as a reason for such an unreasonable decision, which according to Ning damaged the legitimate rights and interests of students from China while also bringing additional obstacles to the normal cultural exchange between both territories.