Social Media Vetting

USCIS Expands ‘Anti-Americanism’ Screening for Immigrants Amidst Controversy

2025-08-21 CoolPal

USCIS Expands ‘Anti-Americanism’ Screening for Immigrants Amidst Controversy In a significant policy shift, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced new measures to screen immigration applicants for “anti-Americanism,” a move that includes expanded social media vetting. Authorities confirmed the new policy on Tuesday, sparking immediate alarm among immigration advocates and legal experts who draw parallels to the McCarthy era. The updated guidelines empower immigration officers to investigate applicants for any “involvement in anti-American or terrorist organizations” and “evidence of…

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,…

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,…