U.S. Pauses Student Visa Appointments and Plans Tighter Social Media Screening: What You Need to Know 美國暫停學生簽證預約並擴大社群媒體審查：國際學生需注意的重點

📢 Big changes ahead for international students applying to study in the U.S.!
The U.S. State Department is pausing new student visa appointments and plans to expand social media screening for all applicants. What does this mean for students preparing for Fall 2025 enrollment?
👉 Read more to understand what’s happening, what it means for your visa plans, and how to prepare.
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📢 申請美國學生簽證的國際學生請注意！
美國國務院宣布暫停新的學生簽證預約，並計畫擴大對申請者的社群媒體審查。這對準備2025年秋季入學的你會產生什麼影響？
👉 點擊閱讀完整內容，了解最新政策、潛在風險，以及應對建議。

Read the news here: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/27/politics/state-department-embassies-pause-student-visa-appointments

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🔍 重點摘要
❗ 美國暫停受理新的學生簽證預約：美國國務院已指示全球各大使館與領事館，暫停安排新的學生簽證（F、M、J類）面試，原因是即將擴大對所有申請人進行社群媒體審查。

❗ 將擴大社群媒體背景調查：自2019年起，美方即要求部分簽證申請人提供社群媒體帳號資料。此政策擴大後，將適用於所有申請學生簽證者。

❗ 不確定的恢復時間與可能的大量積壓：目前尚無恢復預約的明確時間表。若延宕時間拉長，恐將造成簽證審理積壓，尤其對準備入學的學生來說風險甚大。

❗ 招生可能受衝擊：專精學生簽證的律師指出，此時機點並非巧合，可能是有意削弱國際學生秋季入學的能力，進而影響仰賴這些學生的美國大學。

❗ 大使館資源重新分配：國務院已要求各使領館優先處理美國公民事務、移民簽證與詐欺防範工作，學生簽證處理優先順序被下調。

❗ 對高等教育與經濟造成潛在影響：根據國際教育研究所資料，2023–2024學年有超過110萬名國際學生在美國就讀，若簽證政策受限，將衝擊大學財務與美國的教育吸引力。

📌 給國際學生與家庭的建議
✅ 1. 把握機會，儘早行動
若您已有簽證面試預約，請勿取消或更改時間。
尚未預約者，請密切聯繫AIT或所在地的美國使館或領事館，留意最新政策變化。 政策可能隨時更新，需保持彈性。

📝 2. 預留更多簽證處理時間
預期簽證審理時間將延長，請提早規劃以下流程：
-- 收到學校所需文件（如 I-20 或 DS-2019 表格）
-- 安排簽證面試（待恢復後）
-- 機票與住宿等行前準備

🔐 3. 留意社群媒體內容
仔細檢視社群平台上的公開內容（如 IG、Facebook、微博、X等），避免可能引起誤解或被視為敏感的言論。

🧭 4. 準備備案方案
可考慮其他留學國家選項，如加拿大、英國或澳洲等政策較穩定地區。
若簽證延遲，也可考慮先以線上或混合課程開始入學。

📞 5. 積極與大學保持聯絡
多數美國大學會提供以下協助：
-- 延後入學（defer enrollment）
-- 線上課程選項
-- 提供簽證加急面試支持（視政策開放情況而定）

⚖️ 6. 必要時諮詢專業法律意見
若您的簽證遭撤銷，或情況較為複雜，建議尋求簽證律師或移民顧問協助。

📣 最後提醒
此項政策變動是美國近期對外籍人士政策趨於嚴格的延續。國際學生與家庭應保持高度警覺與彈性，隨時準備因應計畫調整，以確保學業不中斷。

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🔍 Key Takeaways
❗ Pause on New Student Visa Appointments: The U.S. State Department has temporarily stopped scheduling new student (F, M, J) visa appointments globally as it prepares for expanded social media vetting.

❗ Expanded Vetting: All student visa applicants will soon undergo more comprehensive social media screening. While such vetting has been required in some cases since 2019, this change would apply it to all applicants.

❗ Uncertain Timeline & Backlogs: No date has been provided for when new appointments will resume, creating potential delays and backlogs — particularly problematic during the peak application season (late spring to early summer).

❗ Impact on Enrollment: Legal experts and former consular officers see this move as deliberately timed to suppress international student enrollment in U.S. institutions for the upcoming fall semester.

❗ Strategic Shift in Priorities: U.S. embassies are being told to focus resources on U.S. citizens, immigrant visas, and fraud prevention — student visa processing is being deprioritized for now.

❗ Economic and Educational Implications: With over 1.1 million international students in the U.S., this policy risks harming universities financially and undermining the country’s reputation as a destination for higher education.

📌 Advice for International Students and Families
✅ 1. Do Not Delay — Take Action Now
If you already have an appointment, do not cancel or reschedule.
If you haven’t booked yet, contact AIT or your local U.S. embassy or consulate to check the latest appointment status. It may be worth checking frequently, as policies can shift quickly.

📝 2. Prepare for Longer Processing Times
Expect longer wait times and additional scrutiny in the visa application process. Build in more time than usual for:
-- Receiving university documents (I-20, DS-2019)
-- Visa interview scheduling (once resumed)
-- Final travel planning

🔐 3. Review Your Social Media Presence
Scrub or review your social media history across platforms listed in your visa application. Avoid posts that could be misconstrued, particularly politically sensitive or controversial content.

🧭 4. Explore Backup Plans
Consider alternative study destinations like Canada, the UK, or Australia, where student visa policies may be more stable.
Some students may also opt for online or hybrid enrollment in the first semester while awaiting visa processing.

📞 5. Stay in Touch with Your University
U.S. institutions are aware of these challenges and may offer:
-- Deferral options
-- Remote learning alternatives
-- Help with expedited visa appointment requests (if and when they resume)

⚖️ 6. Consult a Visa Expert or Immigration Attorney
For students at risk of visa revocation or those with special circumstances, legal guidance can make a big difference.

📣 Final Note
This move is part of broader policy shifts that could affect the U.S.’s attractiveness as a study destination. Families and students should stay vigilant, flexible, and informed — and be ready to adjust their plans if needed.