The United State on Wednesday announced the resumption of student visa applications for foreign nationals, adding a new requirement for applicants to grant access to their social media accounts.
Official said consular officers will review online activity for any content perceived as hostile toward the United States, including its government, culture, institutions, or founding values.
In a notice released Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State announced it has lifted the suspension of student visa processing, originally imposed in May.
However, it warned that new applicants who refuse to make their social media accounts public for government review risk having their applications denied.
The department stated that such refusals could indicate an attempt to evade scrutiny or conceal online activity.
The Trump administration last month temporarily suspended the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students planning to study in the United States, as it prepared to broaden the screening of applicants’ social media activity, officials said.
Across the globe, students have been anxiously awaiting the reopening of U.S. consulates, with limited time remaining to arrange travel and secure housing before the academic year begins.
As part of the resumed visa process, the State Department has instructed consulates to prioritize applications from students seeking admission to colleges where international students make up less than 15% of the student population, according to a U.S. official familiar with the directive.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity, as the information has not been publicly disclosed.
International students in the United States have increasingly found themselves under tighter scrutiny. In the spring, the Trump administration rescinded study privileges for thousands of students — some for minor infractions like traffic violations — before suddenly reversing the policy.
Additionally, the government has widened the conditions under which international students can have their legal status revoked.
In a move seen as part of a broader effort to pressure Harvard University, the Trump administration has sought to block international students from enrolling at the Ivy League school, which depends on foreign students for a quarter of its enrollment and significant tuition revenue. President Trump has urged the university to cap its international student population at 15%.
Defending the new social media screening requirement, the State Department said Wednesday that it “will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country.”
