New Delhi, June 6 -- Issuing visas is a sovereign issue for the US government, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said, hoping that the process will be completed in time for Indian students to join the US universities they have gained admission to this year.

US missions in India and around the world have temporarily paused scheduling new visa appointments as they await instructions from the State Department on how to enhance their screening of applicants' social media profiles.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the welfare of students was of "utmost priority". "We have seen reports suggesting the US government updated guidance regarding Student and Exchange Visitor visa applicants," Jaiswal said at a weekly media briefi...