US Restarts Student Visas, Makes Social Media Checks Mandatory For All Applicants

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Last Updated:June 19, 2025, 09:11 IST

The US State Department has resumed student visa processing, now requiring all applicants to make their social media accounts public for government review.

Student visa applicants must now make their social media profiles public for review.

The US State Department has resumed processing student visas for international applicants after a temporary suspension, but with a significant new requirement: all applicants must make their social media accounts publicly accessible for review by government officials.

In a notice issued Wednesday, the department confirmed the reinstatement of student visa appointments but stated that consular officers would now scrutinise applicants’ online activity. Officers will be instructed to look for posts or messages that could be interpreted as hostile toward the United States, its government, people, culture, institutions, or founding values.

Applicants who refuse to unlock or set their social media profiles to public may face rejection, as such refusal could be seen as an attempt to conceal potentially disqualifying behaviour. “We must ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country," the department said.

The decision follows a pause in visa interviews announced last month by the Trump administration, during which officials reviewed ways to tighten scrutiny of international students’ digital presence.

Relief For Students, But Concerns Remain

The reopening of visa appointments has brought relief to many prospective students. A 27-year-old Chinese Ph.D. student based in Toronto, who asked to be identified only by his surname, Chen, secured an appointment for next week. “I’m really relieved," he said. “I’ve been refreshing the website several times a day."

Students from countries like China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines have been closely monitoring visa portals and State Department briefings, hoping for updates amid a narrowing window to book travel and prepare for the academic year.

In addition to the social media requirement, consular officials have reportedly been instructed to prioritise visa applications for students planning to attend US colleges where foreign students comprise less than 15% of the total enrollment. While this detail hasn’t been officially published, it was confirmed by a US official on condition of anonymity.

That benchmark affects nearly 200 universities across the US, including public institutions such as the University of Illinois and Penn State, as well as all eight Ivy League schools, where international students account for a large share of the student population.

Heightened Scrutiny And Political Overtones

The move is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies, particularly involving international students. Earlier this year, the government revoked student visas from thousands — some for relatively minor infractions — before reversing course under pressure. It has also expanded the criteria for terminating student visa status.

Harvard University, which relies on international students for roughly a quarter of its enrollment, has been a particular target. President Trump has suggested capping foreign student numbers at elite universities like Harvard to no more than 15% of the total enrollment.

Critics argue that the social media screening policy echoes Cold War-era ideological testing. Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, called it “deeply troubling," saying it risks suppressing legitimate political expression.

“This policy turns every consular officer into a censor," Jaffer said. “It will inevitably chill speech, both inside and outside the US"

Meanwhile, the administration has also asked 36 nations to tighten the screening of their own citizens, warning that failure to meet US standards could lead to travel bans. These countries have been given 60 days to comply or risk joining the current list of 12 nations already facing US travel restrictions.

As the US seeks to increase its security protocols, many prospective students are left weighing the benefits of a US education against increasing hurdles and heightened surveillance.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP)

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