The Washington Post reported on Friday that the US State Department notified all foreign consulates to resume processing student visa applications from Harvard University. This decision came just a day after the State Department instructed consulates to reject such visa applications.
On Wednesday, June 4, President Trump signed a proclamation directing the State Department to suspend the issuance of visas to foreign students at Harvard University. This action would prevent new Harvard students from entering the United States on student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visas.
By 7 p.m. on Thursday, Harvard University filed a lawsuit seeking to block the implementation of Trump’s proclamation.
According to a copy of the notice seen by The Washington Post, at 8:59 p.m. on Thursday, the State Department, at Trump’s request, directed foreign consulates to reject processing student visas for Harvard University. The State Department stated in a memo that a new code “HRVD” was being created to indicate the reason for rejection. This rule also applied to visas that had been approved and printed but not yet returned to the applicants. Consulate officials were instructed to cancel these visas in such cases.
However, less than an hour after the State Department issued the notification, a federal judge approved Harvard University’s request at 9:54 p.m. on Thursday, temporarily halting the restrictions on processing student visas imposed by the State Department.
After the temporary restraining order was issued by the court, the State Department sent a telegram to consulates at 7:55 p.m. on Friday, instructing that the “consular sections must resume processing visas for Harvard University students and exchange visitors.” The State Department also indicated that embassies and consulates should continue with additional scrutiny for any visa applicants intending to go to Harvard University, including reviewing their social media accounts. The State Department declined to comment on its instructions to consulates on Friday.
This marks the second time the Trump administration has attempted to block visas for foreign students planning to attend Harvard University. On May 22, the Department of Homeland Security ordered the termination of Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. This meant that Harvard University would no longer be able to admit foreign students, leaving existing thousands of international students with the choice between transferring or leaving the US. Despite a federal judge issuing a temporary restraining order after Harvard filed a lawsuit, postponing the implementation of the Trump administration’s policy, the uncertainty regarding Harvard University’s enrollment capacity persists, causing anxiety among students.
Experts have indicated that even if the Trump administration’s ban is formally revoked, the US State Department still wields significant power over visa issuance. Consular officials have the authority to deny visas for any reason without explanation. Visas may also be placed in “administrative processing” status, during which applicants are left unaware of the progress of their visa applications.
Given the heightened scrutiny measures currently in place, some experts question that even if Harvard University continues to prevail in court, the rate of visa rejections could significantly increase.
The ongoing conflicts between the Trump administration and Harvard University have escalated in recent times. The government alleges that Harvard University failed to fully comply with providing information on the records of its international students, and accuses the university of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party, condoning campus violence, anti-Semitism, and incitement to terrorism. In response, Harvard University stated in the lawsuit that the actions of the Trump administration violated the First Amendment and would have a “direct and devastating impact on Harvard University and over seven thousand visa holders.”