U.S. reactivates visas for foreign students, but with strict monitoring of social networks

The State Department announced Wednesday the reactivation of the visa application process for foreign students after a brief suspension that had halted new consular interviews since May. The reopening comes with one key change: applicants will be required to allow public access to their social media accounts as part of the evaluation process.

In an official notice, the government said those who refuse to comply with this requirement could have their application denied, as the refusal will be interpreted as an attempt to circumvent controls or conceal their online activity.

Evaluation of social media content.

The department detailed that consular officials will review posts and messages on social media that may be considered hostile to the United States, its government, its culture, its institutions, or its founding principles. The move is part of efforts to strengthen international student admission criteria.

"To facilitate this vetting, they will be asked to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to ‘public,’" the State Department said.

Students eager for appointments

Following the announcement, students from various countries, such as China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines, have been closely following the State Department's booking websites and updates for interview appointments. Many have shared on social media their concern about the limited time left to arrange travel and accommodations before the start of the academic year.

One of them, a Chinese doctoral student based in Toronto, managed to get an appointment for next week. The young man, identified only by his surname, Chen, said he was relieved after several days of constantly checking the consulate's official website.

The policy is now in place, and it is expected that in the coming days more students will make it through the process as this new level of digital review is implemented as part of immigration control.