The U.S. State Department has ordered diplomatic missions to resume processing student visa applications but now requires all applicants to make their social media profiles public for government vetting. The move follows a May 27 suspension of new visa appointments while officials developed stricter screening protocols. Under Secretary Marco Rubio’s guidance, consular officers must conduct “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of applicants for F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange) visas.
Applicants must set social media accounts to “public” to enable reviews for “hostile attitudes toward U.S. citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.” Refusal could lead to rejection, as the State Department views privacy settings as potential efforts to “evade or hide activity”. Internal directives also instruct officers to flag support for “designated foreign terrorists” or “unlawful antisemitic harassment,” citing examples like endorsing Hamas. Vetting extends beyond social media to include databases like LexisNexis, with consulates required to implement the rules within five business days.
While visa interviews have restarted, the State Department urged consulates to prioritize two groups: foreign-born physicians in medical exchange programs and students enrolling at universities where international enrollment is below 15%. Elite institutions like Harvard (27% international) face exclusion from prioritization, aligning with the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against universities it deems “too left-wing”. Officials warn that enhanced vetting may force consulates to schedule fewer appointments due to resource strains.
Critics condemn the policy as a threat to First Amendment rights. Jameel Jaffer of Columbia University compared it to Cold War-era ideological exclusion, arguing it “chills legitimate political speech”. Fanta Aw of NAFSA: Association of International Educators warned the rules unfairly target students and could damage U.S. academic competitiveness. The administration defends the measures as necessary for national security, with a State Department official stating, “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right”.