US resumes student visas, but tightens rules with mandatory social media checks

Foreign students will now be required to grant U.S. diplomats access to their social media profiles as part of the vetting process for educational and exchange visas.
Foreign students must now include social media profile access in U.S. visa applications.
Consular officers will monitor profiles for potentially hostile content towards U.S. values.
Non-compliance with this rule may negatively impact visa vetting outcomes.
The U.S. has ordered the resumption of student visa appointments, but with stricter requirements in place. Foreign students will now be required to grant U.S. diplomats access to their social media profiles as part of the vetting process for educational and exchange visas, according to a new announcement from the State Department.
The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. It also warned that failure to comply could be viewed as a red flag during the vetting process.
The directive instructs consular officers to search for any potentially derogatory information about applicants. 'For example, during an online presence search, you might discover on social media that an applicant endorsed Hamas or its activities,' the State Department cable states, noting that such findings could render an applicant ineligible for a visa.
"Remind the applicant that limited access to....online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity," the cable said.
The announcement comes just weeks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed U.S. embassies worldwide to halt student visa interviews as the administration considered tougher social media screening policies.
Application demands grow
The new rules add another layer of scrutiny for foreign nationals hoping to study in the U.S., building on an already demanding process that requires applicants to demonstrate strong academic credentials, sufficient financial support, and a clear intent to return to their home country after graduation.
International students make up 5.9% of the nearly 19 million students enrolled in U.S. higher education. Often paying full tuition, they play a vital role in supporting the financial stability of colleges and universities, helping to offset costs and enabling institutions to offer more financial aid to American students.
The new policy reflects a broader trend of tightening access for international students, particularly those from the Global South. Critics highlight the growing scrutiny of African applicants and persistently high visa rejection rates as part of a troubling pattern that threatens global academic equity.
According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, African nationals already face some of the highest U.S. visa denial rates globally. This latest restriction risks further widening the educational gap for students from developing countries, limiting their access to academic and professional opportunities abroad.

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