The United States has restarted its student visa processing after a brief suspension, but new rules require foreign applicants to provide open access to their social media accounts. The US State Department made the announcement on Wednesday, linking the policy to national security concerns.
Applicants must now set their accounts to “public,” allowing consular officers to examine online posts and messages. The officers have been instructed to look for content that may show hostility toward the US government, institutions, culture, or founding principles. Refusing to grant this access could result in visa rejection, with authorities treating it as an attempt to evade screening.
The decision comes after the Trump administration paused visa interviews last month while preparing broader screening measures. The resumption offers some relief to students worldwide who have been waiting to finalize their travel and housing plans before the academic year begins.
However, the move has sparked criticism from rights groups. Jameel Jaffer of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University said, “This policy makes a censor of every consular officer, and it will inevitably chill legitimate political speech both inside and outside the United States.”
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The department also introduced new internal guidelines to prioritize students applying to institutions where international enrolment is below 15%. That threshold excludes many major universities, including Ivy League schools and large public institutions like the University of Illinois.
The social media checks are part of a broader tightening of immigration and student entry rules. Earlier this year, permissions were withdrawn for some foreign students over minor legal violations before the decision was reversed. The administration has also urged countries to strengthen their own traveller vetting or risk inclusion in a US travel ban list.While the visa door is open again, the new terms signal a clear shift: entry to the US now comes with expanded digital scrutiny.(With inputs from AP)
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