Social Media Vetting

Enhanced Social Media Vetting for US Student Visas: Implications for International Students

2025-06-19 CoolPal

Enhanced Social Media Vetting for US Student Visas: Implications for International Students The United States State Department has announced the resumption of student visa processing for international students, implementing a significant policy change: mandatory public access to applicants’ social media accounts. This decision, following a suspension of processing in May, introduces enhanced social media vetting as a key component of the application process. Consular officers will now scrutinize applicants’ online activity, searching for content deemed hostile to the United States,…

Resumption of Student Visas: Enhanced Social Media Vetting and its Implications

2025-06-19 CoolPal

Resumption of Student Visas: Enhanced Social Media Vetting and its Implications The U.S. State Department announced the resumption of student visa processing, a move welcomed by international students after a period of suspension. However, this resumption comes with a significant caveat: all applicants are now required to make their social media accounts publicly accessible for government review. The department’s statement clarifies that consular officers will scrutinize social media posts and messages for any indication of hostility toward the United States,…