Irish students who have already received their J1 visas for the United States this summer should not be impacted by the pause scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students.
Around 5,000 Irish students avail of the J1 initiative every summer.
The owner of a travel company which specialises in student travel and visas said that very few students are at the beginning of their visa applications.
Michael Doorley said his company, SAYIT Travel, has also spoken to students who are currently in the US and said they have experienced no problems travelling there.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said "practically all the students who intend to travel to America are through, and very few are lined up to start their process. So it won't really affect very much of the Irish students this year."
The Trump administration ordered US embassies around the world to pause scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students.
The State Department instructed embassies abroad, including in Ireland, to halt student or exchange visitor visa appointments - such as for F, M and J visa programmes - until further guidance is issued.
Students who have already scheduled their embassy interviews will be exempt from the pause.
However, those applying in the coming days may experience a delay in the application process.
Mr Doorley said it is not yet certain how the pause will affect students who might be planning to travel to the US in the autumn for undergraduate or post-graduate studies.
He also said that for the first time his company is also including advisories for students about their social media use while in the US, following the advice already issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs updated travel advice for Irish citizens visiting the US, warning of possible "serious consequences" for those who fail to cooperate with border officials or provide inaccurate information.
Officials said that failure to adhere to immigration law could lead to refusal of entry at the border, detention and possible removal from the US.
Mr Doorley said the news is "out there for students to understand if they have history on their mobile phones, of some maybe social activity that wouldn't please the American situation, just delete or whatever."
He said students travelling to the US for summer work are vital for the tourist industry there, adding that he had met six representatives from New England yesterday, who told him how crucial the J1 students are for tourism.
DFA monitoring 'unfolding situation' closely
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said officials have been in contact with the US Embassy in Ireland in relation to the pause in scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students.
A spokesperson told RTÉ News that DFA officials wanted to assess the possible impact on Irish citizens, in particular on students planning to travel in the coming months.
"We are aware of reports that the US has instructed its diplomatic missions globally to pause new appointments for interviews for certain categories visas, including student visas," the department said.
"We will continue to monitor this unfolding situation very closely," it added. "Our understanding at this stage is that existing appointments have not been cancelled and that new applicants can continue to submit applications."
Trinity College has said its Global team will be in contact with any TCD student who is due to travel to study in the US this coming autumn. The college said they will be offering to meet students in person or online to discuss any concerns they may have.
UCD has written to students directing them to access the Department of Foreign Affairs website for advice. Current advice on the DFA website on travel to the US predates the latest development and does not refer to it.
It is not known how many Irish students may be affected by the pause.
AMLÉ urge students to apply as soon as possible
The Union of Students in Ireland has said it would strongly encourage any student planning to apply for a J1 summer work and travel programme visa to submit their application as soon as possible and to stay in regular contact with their visa sponsor.
The union, which now goes by its Irish language acronym AMLÉ, has said any student whose J1 visa has already been granted should have no cause for concern.
For any student who has not yet applied but plans to, AMLÉ said acting early and maintaining clear communication was essential in light of recent uncertainty surrounding immigration processes in the U.S.
In 2023, 23,254 non-immigrant visas were issued by the US embassy in Dublin, but that figure includes holiday visas as well as work and student visas.
Also in 2023, a total of 472,263 student visas were issued internationally by the US.
'We felt it is not safe for us to go' - student
Two Irish students affected by the pause and other recent developments in the US told RTÉ News about their concerns.
Jane and her two friends had planned to travel to Boston this summer to work.
All three have J1 visas and news of the pause does not impact on their plans.
However, the three friends, all third-year students here, decided several weeks ago not to travel to the US.
All three have already paid out €800 for a package which included the cost of their J1 visa, and the money is non-refundable.
"We were very excited. I had a job sorted and everything," said Jane.
"But we saw that French scientist who was denied entry because of a text message on his phone, and then we saw that woman who was detained on the street by ICE and we felt it is not safe for us to go.
"My parents were nervous for me too."
Jane described how she has posted on social media and liked other posts related to what is happening in Gaza.
"I think freedom of speech is very important. I want to stand for what I believe in, and I wouldn't want that to be held against me," she added.
Have the three friends made alternative travel plans for the summer?
"We have to stay in Ireland to work. I have to work to get that €800 back," Jane said.
Tom had planned to travel this September to California to study there for a semester.
"Spending a few months in LA seems really cool and really nice," he said.
Tom explained he is going there to study but also "to see a new culture".
While he is concerned by news of the pause that has been placed on embassy visa interviews for students, pending updated guidelines on social media vetting, Tom said "hopefully I’ll still be able to go".
Tom does not feel any social media posts of his would get him into trouble with the US authorities, but he is keen to stress that he does not support the vetting of social media in this way.
Jane and Tom are not these students’ real names.
Both do not want to be publicly identified because they believe that speaking out on this issue would be likely to harm any planned or future trips to the US.
Additional reporting Emma O Kelly
