The United States government has temporarily suspended the scheduling of new student visa interviews worldwide, including in Nigeria, as it plans to implement stricter social media vetting for applicants. This directive, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, affects individuals seeking F, M, and J visas. While interviews already scheduled will proceed, no new appointments will be made until further notice. The move is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to scrutinize foreign students’ backgrounds more thoroughly, particularly their online activities, amid concerns over national security and campus activism. This development adds to existing challenges faced by Nigerian students, who have also been affected by the suspension of the U.S. visa dropbox service in Nigeria, necessitating in-person interviews for renewals and potentially leading to longer processing times
