Kenyan students seeking to begin their studies in the United States face uncertainty after the U.S State Department paused all new student visa appointments globally.
This move aims to expand the “social media screening and vetting” to all applicants for student visas, according to a diplomatic cable.
According to a diplomatic cable obtained by CNN, all US embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed not to schedule any additional student visa interviews until further notice.
The directive is part of a broader review of how student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visa applications are screened, particularly about applicants’ social media activity.
In 2025, the number of Kenyan students studying in the U.S. is estimated to be around 4,500, according to recent data on African student enrollment trends.
Kenya ranks third among African countries sending students to the U.S., after Nigeria and Ghana, with approximately 4,507 Kenyan students enrolled in U.S. institutions by 2024/2025
Why are new student Visa appointments paused?
“The State Department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants,” the cable reads.
Since 2019, visa applicants have been required to provide their social media identifiers as part of both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications.
This information has been used to flag any potential security concerns, and some applicants have already been subjected to additional scrutiny, especially those suspected of antisemitism.
However, the exact details of what the expanded vetting will involve remain unclear.
Also Read: Ugandan Activist Stranded in Nairobi Blasts Germany Over Visa Stalemate
This new development comes at a time when international students are preparing for the fall academic semester.
The pause is likely to disrupt the visa application process, which typically ramps up between late spring and early summer.
During this time, students are admitted to school, submit deposits, and await official forms required for their visa appointments.
How the pause affects Kenyan students
“Now is exactly when students would be applying for visas to start school in August,” Charles Kuck, a lawyer who represents students affected by previous visa revocations.
“The timing is no accident. This is designed to significantly damage foreign student enrollment in the fall and hurt the many universities that rely on these students.”
Also Read: US Embassy in Kenya Announces Changes in Visa Collection
According to the Institute of International Education, over 1.1 million international students studied at US institutions in the 2023–2024 academic year, with many universities heavily reliant on the tuition they contribute.
The cable confirms that scheduled appointments will still take place.
However, available but unclaimed slots are to be removed from booking systems, and consular offices have been advised to shift focus to services for US citizens, immigrant visas, and fraud prevention.
“Consular sections should remain focused on consular priorities, including services for U.S. citizens, immigrant visas, and fraud prevention,” It instructs.
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