President Donald Trump’s administration has suspended new student visa interviews, a move that could affect thousands of prospective students not only from Kenya but across the entire African continent.

In an official statement, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed diplomatic posts to cease adding new interview slots for student and foreign exchange visas.

Meanwhile, US officials are reportedly developing new guidelines on how to screen and vet visa applicants. This process will notably include expanded scrutiny of social media accounts a practice already implemented for some categories of applicants.

The sudden visa freeze has sparked widespread concern among students hoping to begin or continue their studies in the United States.

However Student who already have interview appointments scheduled have not been affected with the directive and will proceed as planned.

The directive carries far-reaching implications for African students, many of whom rely on access to U.S. institutions for quality higher education.

For those who were diligently preparing their documents and seeking appointments, the freeze has severely disrupted academic plans and raised serious questions about their long-term educational goals abroad.

Education advocates and international student organizations have criticized the decision, arguing that it undermines the spirit of global academic exchange and disproportionately affects students from developing nations.

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