New Visa Regulations Require Foreign Students to Disclose Social Media Accounts

The United States is reportedly preparing to resume scheduling visa interviews for foreign students, according to recent media reports. Outlets such as Politico and The Washington Post have cited an internal directive issued by the State Department, which was distributed to U.S. embassies and consulates earlier this week.

Under the new regulations, visa applicants will face enhanced scrutiny of their online activities. This follows a previous directive that paused the issuance of new visa appointments for foreign students and exchange program participants.

The Washington Post has indicated that under the stricter review measures, applicants will be required to set their social media accounts to 'public.' This requirement specifically targets individuals applying for F, M, and J visa categories, which include students, exchange visitors, and au pairs. Notably, this policy applies regardless of the educational institution involved.

The purpose of this increased scrutiny, as outlined in the directive, is to identify applicants who may harbor 'hostile sentiments' towards the U.S. or who may support 'foreign terrorists' or engage in antisemitic activities. Reports suggest that these new procedures are expected to commence within five business days.

In addition to social media activity, Politico has noted that the overall online presence of applicants will also be examined, including information available in online databases.