Note: This does not apply to citizens of Canada and Bermuda, as they are exempt from the visa (stamp) requirement. However, they must still carry valid immigration documents, such as Form I-20 or DS-2019.  

Update - June 20, 2025

A version of the following message has been communicated to current and incoming F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars under Emory’s immigration sponsorship. 

We are pleased to share a positive update regarding the availability of visa appointments. The US Department of State has instructed all embassies and consulates to resume scheduling appointments for individuals applying for F-1 and J-1 visas. Emory University has advocated for this change and remains committed to supporting our international community. We will continue to monitor updates closely and advocate for more favorable immigration policies and procedures from the US government.

In the same announcement, the US government outlined enhanced social media review procedures. Instructions regarding these procedures will be provided directly by the respective US consulates.

Initial F/J Students and J-1 Scholars: If you have not applied for a visa yet, we recommend that you proceed with your visa application, scheduling an appointment for the earliest available date. If the visa appointment scheduling website is down or unavailable, please check back regularly—daily and multiple times a day—as the website is frequently updated.

Active F/J Students and J-1 Scholars: If you are currently outside the US and need a new visa, we recommend that you proceed with your visa applications, scheduling an appointment for the earliest available date. If the visa appointment scheduling website is down or unavailable, please check back regularly—daily and multiple times a day—as the website is frequently updated. If you are currently inside the US and plan to travel internationally in the coming months, please be sure to complete the Travel Information Update e-form in ISSS Link at least two weeks before your departure. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your ISSS advisor if you have any questions.

Update – June 18, 2025

Some media outlets are reporting that the US Department of State has sent an internal cable memo directing embassies and consulates to resume scheduling visa appointments.  We recommend that students and scholars proceed with their visa applications, scheduling an appointment for the earliest available date. If the visa appointment scheduling website is down or unavailable, please check back regularly—daily and multiple times a day—as the website is frequently updated. Thank you again for your patience with the US government process.

Update - June 4, 2025

The US government has not issued any official updates, just as there was no official announcement from them when they decided to pause additional visa appointments.

However, we are hearing that some US embassies and consulates around the world have resumed accepting new visa appointments. Therefore, our recommendation continues to be for visa applicants to proceed with submitting their visa applications. If the visa appointment scheduling website is down or unavailable, please check back regularly—daily and multiple times a day—as the website is frequently updated. Thank you for your patience with the US government process.

Update - May 30, 2025

• During yesterday’s press briefing, the Department of State (DOS) reaffirmed that the current pause in additional visa appointment scheduling is expected to be brief—likely lasting days rather than weeks or months.
• DOS encourages visa applicants to continue submitting their applications and to monitor the scheduling system regularly for updates. 

Update - May 29, 2025

• ISSS has been hearing from the field that visa applications are still being approved.
  • If you already have a visa appointment scheduled, you should proceed as planned unless your chosen US consulate advises otherwise.
• Importantly, this is not a pause on visa issuance/approval or travel itself.
• This temporary pause affects the scheduling of new appointments.   

May 28, 2025

A version of the following message has been communicated to current and incoming F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars under Emory’s immigration sponsorship. 

This announcement addresses recent news reports regarding a temporary pause in the scheduling of additional F-1 and J-1 visa appointments. 

At this time, there has been no official announcement from the US government. However, according to media sources, this short-term measure (expected to last a few days) is related to the following: 

“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…, which we anticipate in the coming days.”

Based on the information currently available, we recommend the following:

• If you already have a visa appointment scheduled, please monitor your appointment portal closely for any updates or changes.
• If you have not yet scheduled your visa appointment:
  • Book the earliest available appointment at the nearest US consulate, even if it is not your preferred date or time.
  • Once you have an appointment, you may request an expedited visa interview through the US consulate. Each consulate has a different process for requesting the expedited interview appointment, so please check your chosen US consulate’s website for specific instructions.
  • If your country has more than one US consulate, consider checking availability at other locations.
• If the visa appointment scheduling website is down or unavailable, please check back regularly— daily and multiple times a day—as the website is frequently updated.
• To support incoming international students, ISSS has been expediting immigration document (e.g. I-20) issuance. If you have not yet applied for your immigration document, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.
• If you are an incoming J-1 scholar, please coordinate with your host department to request a DS-2019 from ISSS as soon as possible.

Emory is closely monitoring this situation and will provide updates if the temporary pause is extended beyond a few days.

We are here to support you throughout this process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. 

International Student and Scholar Services
404-727-3300 | isss@emory.edu | isss.emory.edu