The U.S. Department of State has announced that they “... will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” In addition, the U.S. Department of State plans to “... revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.” 

ISSS is aware of reports that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has ordered U.S. embassies and consulates to temporarily pause adding additional F and J visa appointment capacity until it issues further guidance on an expansion of social media screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor applicants. At the time of this webpage publication, the only official U.S. government source that references this appears to be a recent U.S. Department of State press briefing. It is unclear how this pause impacts existing visa appointments already scheduled or what the expanded social media screening and vetting might entail. 

Visa Revocation

• A revoked visa is no longer valid as a travel document and cannot be used to request admission at a U.S. port of entry.
• If the visa of an individual inside the U.S. is revoked, it does not automatically impact their legal status to remain in the U.S.
• Visa revocation emails are sent by the U.S. Consulate or Embassy that issued the visa to the email address used on the DS-160
• Recently reported statements from visa revocation emails:
  • Remaining in the United States without a lawful immigration status can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation.
  • Please note that deportation can take place at a time that does not allow the person being deported to secure possessions or conclude affairs in the United States.
  • Persons being deported may be sent to countries other than their countries of origin.
• A visa revocation can be a reason for deportation
• It may be possible to check the validity of your visa at https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx.

 

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Currently Affected Countries

South Sudan: visas revoked, April 5, 2025 - present

• Related articles
  • U.S. Embassy in South Sudan
  • Press Statement on "Defending America’s Security through Visa and Travel Restrictions on South Sudan"

On January 20, 2025 the White House issued Executive Order "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government". 

One component of this order is:

• Agency forms that require an individual’s sex shall list male or female, and shall not request gender identity. 

Consistent with this order, the Department of State has clarified that:  

• When completing the ‘sex’ field of the DS-160 [or DS-260], please select your sex at birth: male or female. Generally, this will be the sex listed on your passport. However, if your passport lists your gender identity, does not list a sex, or lists ‘X’/’unspecified’ in a sex identifier field, you must select your sex at birth. 

Per Travel.State.Gov news article last updated February 18, 2025: 
The U.S. Department of State changed the parameters of the Visa Interview Waiver program. 

To be eligible for a waiver:

• The application must be for a renewal of the same type of visa which the applicant held previously; 
• the visa cannot have been expired for more than 12 months; 
• the applicant must apply for a waiver in their country of nationality or residence;
• the applicant must have never been refused a visa (unless the refusal was overcome or waived); and
• the applicant must have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

However, visa interview waivers are ultimately at the discretion of the issuing post.