After a court order, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly sent a cable to U.S. consular offices ordering the resumption of Harvard international student and exchange visitor visa processing, after previously having ordered posts to deny such visa applications based on a proclamation from President Trump.
The cable stated, “Effective immediately, consular sections must resume processing of Harvard University student and exchange visitor visas,” and “no such applications should be refused.”
Previously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly sent a cable ordering U.S. embassies and consulates to deny visa applications for Harvard international students after President Trump issued a related proclamation and fact sheet. The proclamation singled out Harvard due to national security concerns. Under the proclamation, entry into the United States was to be suspended for any new Harvard nonimmigrant student under an F, M, or J visa, and Secretary Rubio was directed to consider revoking existing F, M, or J visas for current Harvard students who met the proclamation’s criteria.
The fact sheet said that the proclamation did not apply to those attending other U.S. universities through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and exempted those whose entry was deemed in the national interest.
