Latest news with #USStateDepartment
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Will your social media meme get you denied a US visa? Here is what every Indian student must know
Indian students review their online presence before a visa interview. A quiet tension hangs in the air, mixed with hope. (AI Image) The US State Department has resumed processing student visas for foreign nationals, including thousands of Indian students eager to pursue higher education in the US. This follows a temporary suspension in May, which left many applicants in limbo as the academic year approached. However, a new policy has introduced a significant hurdle: All visa applicants must now provide full access to their social media accounts for review. This expanded vetting process, aimed at identifying "hostility" towards the US, its culture, government, or institutions, has sparked concerns among Indian students, who form the largest group of international students in the US Why social media scrutiny? The US State Department's new directive mandates that consular officers thoroughly examine applicants' social media profiles, which must be set to "public" for review. Posts or interactions deemed anti-American or supportive of terrorism or antisemitism could lead to visa denial. Refusal to grant access may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal online activity, further jeopardising approval chances. Impact on Indian students Indian students, contributing over $40 billion annually to the US economy, face unique challenges under this policy. Many have expressed anxiety about their online presence, fearing that even humorous memes or political comments could be misconstrued. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo For instance, a light-hearted post critiquing US culture might be flagged as hostile, despite being innocuous. The vague guidelines leave room for subjective interpretation, raising concerns about fairness. How to prepare your online presence To navigate this, students are advised to audit their social media accounts well in advance. They should delete inactive profiles and ensure active ones reflect neutral or professional content. "I don't think any American would want to be judged by their worst tweet," said Stuart Anderson of the National Foundation for American Policy, as quoted by the Washington Post, highlighting the risk of broad interpretations. Compiling a list of current handles for the DS-160 visa application form is crucial, as incomplete disclosures could signal evasiveness. Broader implications and criticisms Critics, including Jameel Jaffer of the Knight First Amendment Institute, argue that this policy chills free speech, evoking Cold War-era ideological vetting. "This policy makes a censor of every consular officer, and it will inevitably chill legitimate political speech both inside and outside the United States," Jaffer said, as reported by the Associated Press. The requirement, rooted in Executive Order 14188, targets issues like antisemitism but risks stifling legitimate political expression. Indian students, already navigating delays and a new US travel ban affecting six countries, must now tread carefully online to secure their academic dreams. With visa interviews resuming, proactive preparation is key. Indian students should monitor official US embassy updates and maintain a professional digital footprint to avoid visa complications. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Trump plan near success as Congo, Rwanda initial peace deal
The negotiating teams from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have initialled the text of a prospective peace agreement between the two countries, signalling the success of the US-led mediation in ending their long-standing tensions. The teams approved the text in the presence of US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and will now await the ministerial signing of the peace agreement on June 27, 2025, in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US State Department announced on Wednesday. Initialling a document signals that discussions are complete and that both parties are satisfied with the provisions in the text. However, this does not constitute a commitment to implementation until the formal signing by senior diplomats designated by the respective countries. One key area on which the two sides have agreed is the conditional reintegration of non-state armed groups, returning to a solution that Congo has tried before but which has previously collapsed due to mistrust. Rwanda and the DRC have blamed each other over the past decade for fuelling rebellion targeting their respective administrations. President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, which has now seized large swathes of territory in eastern Congo. But, Kigali denies the allegations and also blames Kinshasa for shielding the FDLR, the remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. From the outset, the peace deal is predicated on the premise that both sides will eject foreign fighters and cease backing rebels targeting each other. However, it is unclear whether the steps to end the conflict will differ from previous attempts, such as the initial integration of the M23 into the army, which ultimately failed. They accused the government of marginalisation. Washington dealThe Washington deal was drafted during three days of constructive dialogue on political, security and economic interests. The initialling towers earlier suspicions that some sides were leaking documents to the public, which saw Rwanda initially threaten not to sign. It also includes the establishment of a joint security coordination mechanism incorporating the Conops (concept of operations) of 31 October 2024, and the facilitation of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as ensuring humanitarian access. There is also a framework for regional economic integration. This information was also disclosed by Tina Salama, spokesperson for President Tshisekedi. Representatives from Qatar were also involved in the discussions, and their efforts have successfully led to the peace process between the M23 rebels and the DRC government. Qatar's presence at the discussions between Rwanda and the DRC was intended to ensure that the two countries' initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and peace in the region were complementary and aligned. Tensions have been further exacerbated by the presence of former President Joseph Kabila in Goma, with the Kinshasa authorities seeking his arraignment for alleged treason. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Tanzania seeks travel truce with US to avoid visa ban
Tanzania has opened negotiations with Washington in an attempt to circumvent the latest restrictions imposed by the Donald Trump administration on citizens of African countries planning to travel to the US. This followed the State Department's announcement that a further 36 countries, primarily in Africa, would be added to the list of countries whose nationals are denied visas by the US.'We have seen the US government statement requiring us to work on some immigration issues that may cause Tanzanian citizens to be denied entry to the US, and already the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated discussions with our US counterparts on the matter,' government spokesman Gerson Msigwa said in a statement on Wednesday.'Our aim is to understand what areas need to be fixed, particularly those relating to consular issues, in order to speed up Tanzania's removal from the latest US red list. We will continue to keep Tanzanians posted on how the consultations are progressing,' Mr Msigwa added. On June 14, the US State Department announced that the US could include Tanzania and 24 other African countries on the original list of 19 countries whose citizens have been fully or partially banned from entering the US. The State Department cited concerns over visa overstays, terrorist or antisemitic activity, and the difficulty of verifying the authenticity of identity documents presented by citizens of the listed countries upon arrival in the US. It said that the affected countries must provide evidence of effective remediation plans by Wednesday, June 18.'They must take immediate action to mitigate ongoing vetting and screening concerns, develop corrective action plans to remediate deficiencies and evaluate progress,' the notice said. It asserted that these measures were necessary to prove that 'we (the US) remain committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.'Apart from Tanzania, the new list included Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. On June 4, President Trump issued a proclamation fully banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the US: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. He also imposed a partial travel ban on seven more countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela — saying their citizens would not be allowed to enter the US permanently or get tourist or student visas, but could only travel there on business trips. According to the State Department, categories of concern included the lack of competent government systems to produce reliable identity documents and criminal records, dubious passport security, significant rates of visa overstays, a lack of cooperation in taking back citizens being deported from the US, and selling citizenship to people who do not live in their countries. It said in its latest announcement that the issues differed from country to country, but did not delve into the specifics of each case. But it also offered affected governments a deal where they could get a reprieve by agreeing to accept citizens from other countries that the US was trying to deport but could not repatriate, or to serve as a 'safe third country' that took in US asylum-seekers. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Israel-Iran conflict: What US, UK discussed about 2-week ‘window' as EU ministers gear up for nuclear talks with Tehran
As the conflict between Israel and Iran continued into its eight straight day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Minister David Lammy met in Washington on Thursday to discuss diplomatic efforts to contain the growing crisis in the Middle East. The meeting comes ahead of planned talks between Iran and European powers aimed at reviving nuclear diplomacy and preventing wider escalation. Rubio and Lammy reaffirmed their shared position that Iran must 'never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon,' according to a statement from the US State Department. The UK Foreign Office also confirmed that Lammy will meet on Friday in Geneva with the European Union's top diplomat and foreign ministers from France and Germany. The goal is to engage directly with Iran's foreign minister to de-escalate the situation. Speaking ahead of the Geneva meeting, Lammy said: 'A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.' He added: 'Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.' While in Washington, Lammy also met with White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will participate in a national security meeting on Friday morning. Trump is expected to decide within the next two weeks whether the US will directly join the conflict between Israel and Iran. He has kept US allies and adversaries guessing. Earlier this week, Trump told reporters, 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' He added that he prefers to make the 'final decision one second before it's due.' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he trusts Trump to 'do what's best for America,' adding, 'I can tell you that they're already helping a lot.' The conflict began when Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets on June 13. Iran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities and infrastructure. According to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group, at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran, and more than 1,300 others have been wounded. Israeli officials say at least 24 civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured in Iranian retaliatory strikes. (With inputs from Reuters)
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US government makes new Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media account requirement must for these US visas
The US State Department announced that it will resume processing student visa applications after a month-long suspension, but with a significant new requirement: all applicants must make their social media accounts public for government review. International students applying for F, M, and J visas must now change their privacy settings to allow consular officers to examine their "entire online presence" for signs of hostility toward America, its citizens, culture, or government institutions. Those who refuse to comply may face visa denial, officials warned. The policy affects over 400,000 annual student visa applicants and comes as part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on universities and international education. What students must do now by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Visa applicants must set all social media profiles to public viewing and cannot limit access during the screening process. Consular officers will search for content indicating "hostile attitudes" toward the United States, support for designated terrorist organizations, or engagement in antisemitic harassment or violence. The State Department warned that "limited access to, or visibility of, online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity." Officers are instructed to take detailed notes and screenshots for additional review. The screening extends beyond social media to include searches of online databases like LexisNexis, creating comprehensive digital profiles of applicants. Processing delays expected Embassies have been instructed to prioritize students attending colleges where international students comprise less than 15% of enrollment. The enhanced vetting process may strain consular resources, potentially leading to fewer scheduled appointments and longer wait times. Universities face funding pressures The visa changes coincide with the administration's targeting of elite universities over pro-Palestinian campus protests. Harvard University has had $2.65 billion in federal grants frozen, while Trump has attempted to cap international enrollment at prestigious institutions to 15% of their student bodies. Currently, about 200 U.S. universities exceed this threshold, including all eight Ivy League schools. International students contribute over $40 billion annually to the American economy.
