The US State Department has ordered its embassies and consulates worldwide to “resume processing” of Harvard University students and exchange visitor visas after a judge halted President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to block international students from coming to the institution.
The new guidance replaced one post received earlier, calling on the embassies to refuse visa applicants for students and researchers going to Harvard, due to the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by US District Judge Allison Burroughs.
“Effective immediately, consular sections must resume processing of Harvard University student and exchange visitor visas,” the cable stated, adding that “no such applications should be refused” as the presidential proclamation had ordered.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the cable.
The return to “standard processing,” which the department cable said was “by the TRO,” demonstrated that the department was adhering to the judge’s ruling.
Whether the foreign consulates are appropriately processing student visas for people planning to come to Harvard, pursuant to court orders, has been a concern in the ongoing court fight between Harvard and the Trump administration.
Before the latest moves, Harvard noted to Burroughs that visa-seekers had some difficulty.
Burroughs said she was concerned that potential Harvard students abroad had been unable to get visas from some US embassies a few weeks ago.
However, the judge has instead ordered the administration to keep the status quo for the university’s international student population more broadly. Another major court hearing is set for next week.
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