U.S. resumes student visa applications under new social media review rules – country
The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it will restart the suspension process for foreigners applying for student visas, but will now require all applicants to unlock their social media accounts for government review.
The department said consular officials will seek posts and information that may be considered to be about the United States, government, culture, institutions or established principles.
The department said in a notice released Wednesday that it had revoked the possibility of a possible suspension of student visa processing, but said new applicants who refused to set their social media accounts to “public” and allow them to be reviewed may be denied. It says refusal to do so may be a sign of their attempt to evade requests or hide online activity.
Officials said the Trump administration temporarily stopped scheduled new visa interviews for foreign students who hope to study in the United States, while preparing to expand screening of their activities on social media.
Students around the world have been anxiously awaiting an appointment for the U.S. consulate reopens visa interviews as the windows left behind can book trips and narrow down housing arrangements before the school year begins.
On Wednesday afternoon, a 27-year-old PhD student in Toronto was able to ensure a visa interview next week. The student is a Chinese national who hopes to travel to the United States to attend a research internship position that began in late July.
“I'm really relieved,” the student said, with his last name Chen only on his last name because he was worried about being a target. “I refresh the site a few times a day.”
Students from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines have posted on social media sites, who have been monitoring visa booking sites and keep an eye on the State Department’s press conference to show when bookings can be resumed.
“Under the new guidance, the Consular Officer will conduct a comprehensive and thorough review of all students and exchange visitors applicants,” the department said in a statement.
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“To facilitate this review, applicants will be asked to adjust the privacy settings of all their social media profiles,” it said. “Enhanced social media review will ensure that we correctly screen everyone who is trying to visit our country.”
In an internal guidance sent to consular officials, the ministry said they should look for “any sign of hostility towards American citizens, culture, government, institutions, or principles established by the United States.”
Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knights First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said the new policy evoked ideological censorship in the Cold War when famous artists and intellectuals were excluded from the United States.
“This policy is for every consular official to examiners, which will inevitably relax legal political speeches within and outside the United States,” Jaffer said.
International students in the United States face increasing scrutiny in several ways.
In the spring, the Trump administration revoked permission to study for thousands of students in the United States, including some who only participated in traffic crimes, and then suddenly reversed the course. The government has also expanded the reasons why foreign students can terminate their legal status.
As part of a pressure campaign against Harvard, the Trump administration has moved to block foreign students from attending Ivy League schools, which relies on international students’ tuition fees and a quarter of their enrollment. Trump said Harvard should limit its foreign enrollment rate to 15%.
The Trump administration also called on 36 countries to work to improve travelers' scrutiny or face bans on visiting U.S. citizens. The weekend diplomatic cable sent by the State Department said these countries have 60 days to address our concerns or be added to the travel ban now including 12 countries.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
