Big changes could be coming for international students hoping to study in the United States. The Trump administration is hitting pause on issuing new student visas, and a peek at your social media might soon be part of the application process.
According to a report by the NY Post, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed US embassies and consulates to temporarily stop scheduling appointments for F, M, and J visas. Let’s break it down. Video summary generated with artificial intelligence.
The Pause on Student Visas: What’s Happening?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed all US embassies and consulates to put a hold on adding any new appointment slots for F, M, and J visas. These visas are specifically for international students and exchange visitors.
Why the sudden change? The State Department is getting ready to broaden its social media screening process. This pause allows them to prepare for these new procedures. We should expect more instructions to be released in the coming days.
This isn’t the first time the government has cracked down on student visas. Recently, at least 4,000 international student visas were revoked due to alleged criminal records. These included serious offenses like:
- Arson
- Human trafficking
- Child endangerment
- Domestic abuse
The Department of Homeland Security also tried to cancel visas for almost 7,000 students at Harvard University. Harvard argued that the DHS policy violated constitutional rights and threatened a large portion of its student body. The school’s president warned that mass deportations would “imperil the futures” of thousands of scholars. They called it a direct attack on academic freedom.
President Trump called Harvard’s position “ridiculous.” He accused the university of allowing anti-Semitic protests and working with hostile foreign actors.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed that the government has a right to restrict campus access to those who “abuse their privilege to be here.”
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.