Processing of visas requires access to social media handles of the applicants as part of a comprehensive new vetting process
Weeks after it was suspended, processing of visas for international students has been resumed by the State Department of the United States, but with a stricter vetting of the social media profile of each applicant.
According to US State Department, processing of visas requires access to social media handles of the applicants as part of a comprehensive new vetting process. The move follows a temporary suspension of student visa interviews by the Trump Administration last month, which left hundreds of thousands of prospective students worldwide in limbo.
Under the updated guidelines, applicants for F, M, and J visas, which cover academic, vocational and exchange students, must set their social media profiles to ‘public’ or risk having their applications rejected. Reportedly, the State Department has warned that keeping accounts private may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal online activity, potentially signalling a lack of transparency or an intent to hide hostile behaviour.
Consular officers have been instructed to conduct detailed assessments of each applicant’s social media presence, specifically searching for posts, messages, or activities that could indicate hostility toward the United States, its government, institutions, or founding principles.
According to the official report, internal guidance directs officials to look for any signs of animosity toward American citizens or support for designated foreign terrorist organisations and national security threats.
The decision to resume visa processing comes as the fall academic term approaches, with students from countries such as China, India, Mexico and the Philippines expressing frustration over the delay and uncertainty in securing appointments. Many have taken to social media to voice their concerns, frequently refreshing visa booking sites and monitoring State Department updates for news on the resumption of interviews.
The enhanced screening measures are part of the Trump Administration’s broader push to strengthen national security by tightening entry requirements for foreign nationals. Officials argue that the new policy will help ensure the safety of American citizens and institutions by identifying individuals who may pose a risk before they enter the country.
Additionally, the updated requirements have sparked debate over privacy and the potential for overreach, but the State Department maintains that the measures are necessary to protect national security. The resumption of visa processing is expected to clear a significant backlog, but the additional scrutiny is likely to make the application process more rigorous and time-consuming for all involved.
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