Warning for Irish students as US demands public social media access for visas
Irish people and students applying for certain US visas will be instructed to set their social media profiles to public as part of a new 'comprehensive and thorough' vetting process. The US Embassy in Dublin further confirmed that it will resume taking applications for visas shortly.
Last month, the US State Department instructed embassies to halt some visa appointments until further guidance was issued. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was reported to have said in an internal communication that there are 'plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applications'.
This caused concern for Irish students who were in the process of applying for J1 visas ahead of the busy summer period. The US Embassy in Dublin has now confirmed that it will restart taking visa applications but that there will be new requirements for social media profiles.
This includes for J visas, used by people like students and teachers and F and M visas, both used by students travelling to the US to study. The new rules will require those applying for visas to set their social media accounts to public.
A spokesman said: 'The US Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. A US visa is a privilege, not a right.
'We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security.
'Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.
'To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to public.'
The embassy stated that visa applicants will be required to list all social media usernames or handles of 'every platform they have used from the last five years' on their application forms. It also warned that 'omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas'.
The spokesman continued: 'The US Embassy in Dublin will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications soon. Applicants should check our visa scheduling service for appointment availability.
'Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.'
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