The United States has restarted the student visa process for foreign applicants, but with a strict new condition. The US State Department has made it mandatory for all student visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for government review, as part of national security checks.
This new guideline applies to F, M, and J visa categories, which cover most students and exchange visitors. The department clearly stated that online presence, including past social media activity, will now be a part of the visa vetting process.
What the New Rules Say
All applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas will be instructed to set the privacy setting on all their social media profiles to ‘public, ” said the State Department. Officials added that this will help conduct comprehensive and thorough background checks before issuing student visas.
The department justified the move by saying, “We use all available information during our visa screening to identify applicants who may pose a threat to the United States. This is part of our commitment to national security and public safety.”
Visa is a Privilege, Not a Right
The US government emphasized that getting a visa is a “privilege, not a right”. Each visa decision is now being treated as a national security matter. Every applicant will need to prove eligibility and demonstrate that they are coming to the US only for activities allowed under the visa, like studying or research.
Background Behind the Move
Last month, the US had hinted that the pause on student visa interviews would end “sooner rather than later.” Students were advised to keep applying and stay updated with the embassy announcements.
The stricter visa screening comes after the Trump administration raised concerns over political unrest on US college campuses, especially following protests linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Authorities have accused some universities of not taking adequate action to protect Jewish and international students.
In response, the administration ordered global US embassies to temporarily halt student visa interviews while new measures like checking social media were being added to the screening process.
