ISTANBUL 

The Trump administration ordered US embassies to pause scheduling new student visa interviews while considering mandatory social media vetting for all foreign students, according to a cable obtained by Politico.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the directive Tuesday instructing consular sections to halt adding appointment capacity for student and exchange visitor visas until further guidance arrives in the coming days, according to the news outlet.

"Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued," the cable stated.

Politico said the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

Broader screening expansion

The move represents a significant expansion of existing social media vetting efforts that began in April. Current screening covers international students, skilled workers, tourists and researchers' public posts, likes, shares, comments and group affiliations.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced in April it would consider antisemitic social media activity and harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefits.

The agency said it would view content endorsing antisemitic terrorism or organizations as negative factors in discretionary immigration decisions.