U.S. reopens student visas application for Kenyans after short ban -

By Daisy Okiring

Nairobi | Thursday, June 19, 2025- The United States has reopened student visa applications for Kenyan applicants, following a brief suspension announced by President Donald Trump on May 27. The move brings relief to thousands of students who had been left in limbo.

The temporary freeze affected appointments for F, M, and J visas—those issued to international students, vocational trainees, and exchange visitors. The suspension aimed to give U.S. immigration authorities time to implement stricter screening processes, particularly around applicants’ online presence.

“The Department is reviewing existing procedures for vetting student and exchange visitor visa applicants,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. “Based on that review, new guidelines will be issued requiring expanded social media checks.”

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Under the new rules, all student visa applicants must have publicly accessible social media accounts. According to the State Department, accounts must be set to the lowest privacy setting to allow full visibility. Officials noted that failure to comply may be seen as an attempt to hide online activity.

“Consular officers will now carry out deeper checks on all students and exchange visitors,” the statement added. “This ensures that we are properly screening everyone before they enter the country.”

The changes apply to applicants for F visas (used by college and university students), M visas (used by vocational and technical learners), and J visas (used by exchange program participants).

President Trump’s administration has taken a tougher stance on foreign students, including attempts to deport some, revoke existing visas, and freeze funding for major universities. Harvard University, among others, has been significantly affected by these decisions, with billions in government support withheld.

The reopening of the visa application system means Kenyan students planning to study in the U.S. can now proceed with scheduling appointments, though under stricter scrutiny.