U.S. Department of State Resumes Appointment Scheduling for F, J, and M Visa Applicants

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will resume appointment scheduling for F, J, and M Visa applicants, approximately three weeks after ceasing the process. As a result, eligible applicants should quickly secure an interview slot in advance of upcoming summer, fall, or winter programs. However, applicants must make their social media profiles public to enable the Department of State to conduct an audit of their online activity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Department of State will resume appointment scheduling for F, J, and M Visa applicants, allowing students and scholars to secure interview slots for upcoming programs.
  • All F, J, and M Visa applicants must make their social media profiles public, enabling the Department of State to conduct an audit of their online activity.
  • The development comes after the Department of State initially ceased scheduling appointments due to social media concerns.
  • The Trump Administration had previously required immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants to disclose their social media use over the preceding five years, citing similar rationales for the new requirement.
  • A recent Federal Court in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction halting the Trump Administration's actions targeting Harvard University, granting the institution temporary relief from the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification and access to the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
  • The preliminary injunction also prohibits the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from ceasing Harvard's SEVP certification and its access to SEVIS, as well as taking any negative action towards foreign nationals seeking to participate in an SEVP-qualifying program at Harvard as an F, J, or M nonimmigrant.
  • However, F, J, or M Visa applicants from certain countries, including those listed in the entry ban, will still face limitations when attempting to attend SEVP-certified institutions.

Statistics:

  • 3 weeks: The timeframe between the U.S. Department of State's cessation of scheduling appointments and the resumption of scheduling.
  • 6 years: The duration since the Trump Administration first started requiring immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants to disclose their social media use over the preceding five years.

Sources:

  • "U.S. Department of State Resumes Appointment Scheduling for F, J, and M Visa Applicants," Mondaq, 2025, [www.mondaq.com](http://www.mondaq.com).
  • "U.S. Department of State to Require F, J, and M Visa Applicants to Disclose Social Media Use," Mondaq, 2023, [www.mondaq.com](http://www.mondaq.com).
  • "Harvard University's Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Certification and Access to SEVIS," Mondaq, 2024, [www.mondaq.com](http://www.mondaq.com).