Latest news with #anti-American
Time of India
4 hours 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.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
U.S. student visa interviews resume worldwide: What the new Social Media rule means
The United States has resumed student visa interviews with a significant change: applicants must now make their social media profiles public. Consular officers will review platforms used over the past five years to assess online behavior, looking for anti-American sentiment or extremist views. This new policy aims to enhance national security by thoroughly scrutinizing applicants' digital footprints. Good news for students! The United States has resumed processing student visa interviews across the globe after a temporary pause. However, there has been a significant new change which applicants must know. Starting now, those wishing to apply for a student visa will have to make their social media profiles public. Yes, you read that right! The new policy was implemented by the U.S. State Department. The main aim of this new change is to increase national security by reviewing the online presence of visa applicants more thoroughly. More about the Social Media Rule As per new rule, the consular officers will have to check all social media platforms used by student visa applicants over the past five years. These include F-1 academic visas, M-1 vocational visas, and J-1 exchange visitor visas. If someone attempts to delete, hide or restrict access to social media content may raise red flags during the visa review process. This new change follows an internal State Department directive. The social media will help scrutinise the online behavior of the applicant. It could indicate anti-American sentiment, extremist beliefs, or support for violence. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Not only this, even deleted or edited content may be captured in screenshots for further evaluation. As per the guidance, all social media handles, including the ones which are no longer in use, will have to be mentioned. As per a cable from the State Department, American citizens expect their government to increase national security, especially when it comes to the visa system. 'Secretary Rubio is helping to make America and its universities safer while bringing the State Department into the 21st century,' the message said. Though visa interviews have now resumed with consular officers spending significant time reviewing applicant's digital histories. So now students applying for a U.S. visa, it's important to maintain complete transparency by mentioning every social media account they have used so far. Make sure content is viewable. Don't delete if you are planning to apply. With digital behavior now playing a central role in U.S. visa decisions, what students post on their social media platforms could play a significant role in their academic future. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
New York Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Don't fall for ‘regime change' myths — US power is a force for good
MAGA celebrity Charlie Kirk, attempting to balance support for the administration and appeal to online isolationists, maintains that the 'regime change war machine in DC' is pushing President Donald Trump into 'an all-out blitz on Iran.' He's not alone. The question is, what does 'regime change war' mean in simple language? Does it mean, as 'non-interventionists' suggest, invading Iran and imposing American democracy on its people? Because, if so, there's virtually no one pushing for that. And I only add 'virtually' in case I somehow missed a person of consequence, though it is highly unlikely. Trump, from all indications, is using the threat of the US joining the war to push Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei into surrender. Though taking out Iran's nuclear program would end the war quicker. Or does opposing 'regime change' mean actively thwarting the Iranian opposition from overthrowing the fundamentalists who took power via a violent revolution in 1979? Does it mean ensuring that Khamenei survives, because a resulting messy post-war fight for power is worse? It seems the latter. Kirk says, 'There is a vast difference between a popular revolution and foreign-imposed, abrupt, violent regime change.' Surely, he doesn't believe the mullahs will gradually propose liberal reforms for the people and become peaceful neighbors on their own? If Iranians revolt, it's because of the violence now being imposed on the regime. The ideological overcorrection due to the failures of Iraq's rebuild now has non-interventionists accusing anyone who proposes that it's better if anti-American dictatorships fall of being 'neocons,' perhaps the most useless phrase in our political lexicon. Forget for a moment that Iran has been an enemy of the United States for 45 years. Not an existential threat, no, but a deadly one, nonetheless. The non-interventionist is not bothered by the Islamic Republic's murder of American citizens, or its crusade for nuclear weapons — until Khamenei drops Revolutionary Guard paratroopers into San Diego, they don't think it's any of our business. Because of this overcorrection, non-interventionists, both left and right, simply can't fathom that exertion of American power could ever be a good thing. They now create revisionist histories blaming the United States for virtually all the world's ills. 'It was Britain, and (funded by) the United States that overthrew a democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mossedegh in 1953 by using hired mobs in a coup that lead [sic] to the installation of the Shah Pahlavi's 27 year reign of authoritarianism and human rights abuses,' wrote Trump-supporting comedian Rob Schneider in a viral post. 'All in the name of Iranian Oil.' 'Remember,' Kirk told his followers, 'Iran is partially controlled by mullahs today because we designed regime change to put the shah back in power.' Boy, I wish people would stay off Wikipedia for a while, because this fantasy, spread by blame-America leftists for decades, is now being picked up by the right. The notion that Iran would have been a thriving democracy in 1954 had the US not gotten involved — and our involvement is way overstated — is more ridiculous than blaming us for the 1979 revolution nearly 30 years later. It is far more likely Iran would have emerged as a Soviet client state, destined to fall anyway when fundamentalists swept the Islamic world in the 1970s. Realpolitik is ugly. Non-interventionists love to harp on the deadly byproducts of our intrusions into world affairs — and there have been many — without ever grappling with the counterfactual outcome. For instance, the contention that 'regime change' never works is incredibly simplistic. Regime change was a success in Germany and Japan. And I bet the Hungarians, Czechs, Slovenians, Estonians and many others were all on board for regime change, as well. None of that happens without US intervention in conflicts, cold and hot, around the world. People will rightly point out that Europe is not the Middle East. In that regard, Iran is not Iraq or Syria. Schneider contends that '90 million people will fight for their survival again,' as they did in Iraq. Sure, some Iranians might fight to preserve the brutal Islamic regime. Many would not. The real fear should be that a civil war would break out if Iran's regime collapses. There are numerous minorities in Iran, but Persian national consciousness goes back to antiquity. If the mullahs fall, a majority of Iranians may turn out to fight for a better life free of needless conflicts with the West. It may go south. It may not. I have no idea how that turns out, and neither do you. Except for one thing: Whoever wins won't have nuclear weapons. David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Want to study in the U.S.? The government might scroll your Instagram first — here's what the new 2025 visa rule means for foreign students
New US visa rules require foreign students to make social media profiles public for security screening- Foreign students applying for US student and exchange visas must now unlock their social media profiles for inspection as part of stricter US visa rules, the State Department has announced. This move is aimed at boosting national security through detailed online presence reviews of applicants seeking F, M, and J category visas, which cover academic programs, vocational training, and cultural exchanges. The directive, issued on Wednesday, asks US consular officers worldwide to conduct social media vetting to check for signs of anti-American sentiment or any links to activities considered threatening to the United States. According to Politico, diplomats have been instructed to look for "hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States", and to flag any support for foreign terrorist groups, antisemitic violence, or other national security concerns. Why are social media profiles being reviewed under US visa rules? The US government now expects foreign student visa applicants to adjust privacy settings across all social media platforms and make their accounts public for official review. This requirement applies to all F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange) visa categories. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo The State Department emphasized that these checks aim to "ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country." The vetting process includes identifying any posts, affiliations, or behaviors that may suggest a risk to national security or show hostility toward US values. A senior official added that this change reflects "an expectation from American citizens that their government will make every effort to make our country safer." Live Events Who will be affected by these social media checks? The new social media disclosure rules target international students and exchange visitors, particularly those from countries that the US considers high-risk or sensitive. The State Department has also been keeping a close watch on Chinese students, especially in the context of tense US-China relations, trade disputes, and rare-earth mineral supply chains. These rules apply to all applicants globally who are seeking visas under the F, M, or J classifications. While the policy doesn't single out any nationality in the official announcement, the implementation might vary based on country-specific diplomatic concerns. Which international students are most affected by this rule? The rule applies to all student and exchange visa applicants under categories F, M, and J . But it particularly affects those applying to elite U.S. universities —such as Ivy League schools—where foreign student populations are higher. The State Department has also prioritized interview slots for students applying to colleges with less than 15% international enrollment , leaving others scrambling for timely interview appointments. What content will US diplomats look for in social media activity? According to guidance reported by Politico , consular officers are instructed to look for: Support for foreign terrorist organizations Hostility toward US culture or government institutions Online advocacy of violence or antisemitism Any content considered a threat to US national security This level of monitoring aligns with broader government efforts already underway at US Citizenship and Immigration Services, especially around monitoring online opposition to US allies like Israel. How does this policy tie into broader US immigration and security goals? The social media screening policy was introduced during the Trump administration, which paused the issuance of new education visas in May while developing enhanced vetting protocols. The move has been publicly supported by Secretary of state Marco Rubio, who has been vocal about tightening foreign student entry to protect national interests. Officials argue that these new measures are part of modernizing the State Department's visa system to keep pace with evolving online threats. What do students need to do before their visa interview? Under the new US visa rules, applicants will be expected to: Set all their social media accounts to public visibility Be prepared for in-depth questions about past posts and affiliations Avoid hiding or deleting content, as this may raise suspicion Failure to comply could result in delays or outright denial of a visa. Officials warn that hiding activity could be interpreted as intent to deceive. Are privacy advocates concerned? Absolutely. Critics of the policy, including human rights and education groups, argue this change could chill free speech , deter international talent , and compromise student privacy . Some experts are comparing it to Cold War-era ideological screening. They also warn that applicants may start self-censoring or deleting years of personal content, further complicating the visa process. What's next for the US visa application process? With these new changes, the US has resumed scheduling interviews for educational and cultural exchange programs. However, each application will now undergo what's described as a 'comprehensive and thorough vetting' process, heavily influenced by online behavior and perceived political or social affiliations. This policy could potentially reshape how thousands of foreign students prepare their digital presence when applying for US study visas. While the stated goal is safety, critics argue that it could also silence legitimate political expression or discourage applicants who are concerned about privacy. US visa rules now require applicants to make their social media profiles public Applies to F, M, and J visa holders, including international students and exchange visitors Officials will screen for any perceived threats, including antisemitic or anti-US content Social media vetting is now part of a standard background check This policy is part of a broader push to modernize visa security measures As these new US visa rules take effect, international students are urged to be cautious, transparent, and well-informed when submitting their visa applications and preparing their online profiles. FAQs: Q1: What do the new US visa rules require from foreign students? They must set their social media profiles public for US review. Q2: Which visa categories are affected by the social media checks? The rules apply to F, M, and J visas for education and exchanges.
The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Antifa's violence in LA is not helping immigrants
Once more, the streets of Los Angeles are filled with chaos, burned buildings, looted businesses, law enforcement under siege, and ideological flags flying high in American air. We've been here before. And if we do not course-correct, we will be here again. And again. Let's start with the uncomfortable truth: The root of the current riots lies in the previous administration's failure. A failure that permitted millions to enter our country without any real verification process. No accountability. No enforcement. No border management that reflects both compassion and security. That porous approach to immigration, driven by virtue-signaling rather than vision, has produced what we're now witnessing: unrest tied directly to policies that abandoned common sense for political optics. Second, let's name the perpetrators. The majority of these riots are being led, organized, and amplified by Antifa factions and ultra-left progressive groups whose mission is not reform but total revolution. These are modern-day anarchists. Their goal is not justice but chaos. They want to tear down capitalism, dismantle law enforcement, and erase every institutions that hold Western society together. Their agenda is disorder, and their strategy is infiltration — hijacking moments of genuine civil concern and setting fire to the very cities they claim to protect. Third, we must be honest about the optics and outcomes. Some individuals are peacefully protesting. The constitutional right to assembly and civil disobedience must be protected at all costs. But the images we are seeing of foreign flags waving amid anti-American rhetoric, rocks thrown at police officers, and masked agitators shouting for the abolition of ICE and capitalism, undermine any moral high ground. The presence of Mexican, Salvadorian, and Palestinian flags during riots does not help the cause of immigration reform, either. It alienates the public and further mobilizes opposition even to the most rational and compassionate immigration policies. If you genuinely believe in legal immigration and you care about the millions who have been here for 20, 25, or 30 years, raising families, working hard, living peacefully, then you must agree that these riots hurt and did not help their cause. This lawlessness is antithetical to everything the immigrant rights movement hopes to achieve. The riots in downtown Los Angeles serve as a stark and unmistakable reminder that we are only inches away from the breakdown of law and order at any given moment. The same spirit of lawlessness that engulfed our nation after the murder of George Floyd has returned. And this time, it has been weaponized with even more ideological fervor and less spiritual clarity. A segment of our population, especially among younger generations, has been captivated by a narrative that rejects the rule of law and lacks any foundational understanding of our constitutional republic. Worse still, there is a spiritual void and a lack of prophetic bandwidth to discern the difference between justice and vengeance, between righteous indignation and reckless rage. At the end of the day, no one should ever be protesting the deportation of individuals who are violent criminals, rapists, murderers, or pedophiles. That is indefensible. There is a legitimate space for expressing concern over the deportation of longstanding immigrants who have lived here peacefully and, despite having overstayed their visas decades ago, have contributed to society and never engaged in criminal behavior. To conflate those two narratives — criminal and non-criminal — destroys our credibility and sabotages efforts at reform. The Los Angeles riots should wake us up not only to what is happening in our streets, but also to what's happening in our hearts. If we do not recover respect for truth, wisdom, discernment and law and order tempered by grace, we will lose our nation not to conquest but to chaos. Pastor Samuel Rodriguez is the lead pastor of New Season, one of America's most influential megachurches, and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which represents millions of Christians worldwide.
