U.S. to Review Student Visa Applicants' Social Media

all applicants must now make their social media accounts accessible for government review.

Consular officers will be examining social media posts and messages for any content deemed hostile towards the United States, its government, culture, institutions, or founding principles. Applicants who refuse to make their accounts public may face visa rejection, as this could indicate an attempt to evade the requirement or conceal online activity.

This policy follows a temporary halt on new visa interviews for foreign students, which was implemented to expand social media screening. Students worldwide have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of visa interview appointments, as the timeframe for travel and housing arrangements narrows before the academic year begins.

The State Department stated that consular officers will conduct a thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants. To facilitate this, applicants will be required to set their social media profiles to "public." The department's internal guidance to consular officers instructs them to look for any signs of hostility towards the United States.

Critics, such as Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, have expressed concerns that this policy resembles the ideological vetting of the Cold War era. They argue that it will likely stifle legitimate political speech both within and outside the United States.

International students in the U.S. are already facing increased scrutiny. The Trump administration previously revoked study permissions for thousands of students, and has expanded the grounds for terminating their legal status. Furthermore, the administration has targeted Harvard University, seeking to limit foreign student enrollment. The administration has also called on 36 countries to improve traveler vetting or face potential travel bans.