The Trump administration’s decision to temporarily pause scheduling F, M, and J visa appointments jeopardizes the success of international exchange programs essential to the U.S.’ economic prosperity and national security.
On Tuesday, May 27, Politico reported that a cable sent to all embassies and consular posts by Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for consular sections to “not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued.” This request stems from the Department’s plan to “evaluate operations and processes in preparation for expanded social media vetting of all student and exchange visitor visa applicants.”
The cable also states that “appointments already scheduled can proceed under current guidelines,” though the Alliance received reports that a small number of previously scheduled interviews were canceled after the cable was sent.
It is important to note the scope of this pause: this impacts international youth, students, and professionals participating in BridgeUSA exchange programs, international leaders participating in professional exchanges, international students and scholars planning to contribute to U.S. universities and colleges, and so many more.
This pause negatively impacts the American businesses, families, schools, and communities that benefit from engaging with international exchange participants, leaders, and international students and scholars in their everyday life.
Without…
- … international students, the U.S. would forfeit the $43.3 billion they contribute to the U.S. economy and the nearly 400,000 American jobs they support per year.
- … the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which provides short-term professional exchanges for international leaders, the U.S. would miss out on the $81.7 million the IVLP community puts back into American communities.
- … Summer Work Travel BridgeUSA participants working with local seasonal businesses across the country, the U.S. would lose the $353 million participants spend in the U.S. every year.
- … Intern and Trainee BridgeUSA participants working with American companies, the U.S. would lose the $264.2 million participants spend in the U.S. every year.
- … BridgeUSA Au Pairs supporting American families, the U.S. would lose the $143.8 million Au Pairs spend in the U.S. every year, and many American families will see their childcare costs increase significantly.
- … Camp Counselor BridgeUSA participants creating life-changing summer experiences for American youth, the U.S. would lose the $50.1 million Camp Counselors spend in the U.S. every year.
And this just scratches the surface of all the ways international exchange participants and students make America more prosperous and enhance communities across the U.S.
The Alliance strongly encourages the Department of State to immediately resume all nonimmigrant visa appointments for international exchange and education programs.