The State Department will resume student and scholar visa processing, adding public access to social media accounts as a new vetting requirement.
The U.S. Department of State announced it will begin processing visa applications for international students and visiting scholars once again, with a new requirement: applicants must make their social media profiles public as part of the security screening process.
According to a statement on the department’s official website, this measure aims to help identify individuals who may pose a threat to national security. Applicants who do not allow access to their social media accounts may be denied a visa.
Consular officers have been instructed to examine social media activity for any signs of “hostility” toward the United States or its citizens. However, the agency has not provided further clarification on how such behavior will be defined or interpreted.
This policy follows a temporary suspension of student visa interview appointments announced in May, which was implemented to prepare for this updated digital screening process.
More than one million international students are currently enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities. Their presence contributes both to the national economy and to the academic and cultural diversity of higher education institutions. However, recent restrictions have led to increased uncertainty among prospective applicants. Preliminary data indicates a decline in interest in studying in the U.S. since the beginning of the year.
A drop in international student enrollment could impact universities that rely on these students for tuition revenue and the global perspective they bring to campus life.
