State Department Pauses New Visa Interviews for Students, Exchange Visitors
The State Department has temporarily paused the scheduling of new visa interviews for F, M, J visa applicants. These individuals are students enrolled at U.S. universities (F), exchange visitors such as scholars, exchange visitors and students (J), and vocational or nonacademic program participants (M).
Consular sections are not to add any new visa appointment slots for these visa categories while the department prepares to expand social media screening and vetting requirements. Interviews that were scheduled before the announcement will proceed as planned. The pause applies only to new appointments.
This pause impacts SHRM’s own J-1 Exchange Visitor Program that supports placements with companies such as Disney, Lowe’s, Novo Nordisk, and many more across the country. SHRM is a designated sponsor by the State Department in the intern, trainee and research scholar designations. Since 2023 SHRM has proudly approved the sponsorship of nearly 2,000 exchange visitors.
Within hours of the announcement, SHRM hosted an exclusive webinar for its J-1 Visa Program clients and partnered with Leon Fresco, Partner, Holland & Knight, to explain the policy shift, provide technical guidance, and share SHRM’s strategic response.
This week, SHRM will host Part II of this webinar series, which will be open only to SHRM member-only webinar on this topic, where members can gain insights on global consulate visa appointment trends and learn more about SHRM’s advocacy efforts on this issue. Register HERE to attend!
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