- विज्ञापन -
Washington: The US Department of State announced that it will restart processing visas for international students, but with a new requirement that applicants must make their social media accounts publicly accessible for review by government officials.
According to the new guidelines, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to set their social media profiles to “public” to enable comprehensive vetting of their online presence. This online review will be part of the thorough screening process for student and exchange visitor visa applicants.
The State Department emphasized that this policy aims to uphold national security and ensure public safety, asserting that a US visa is a privilege, not an automatic right. It stated that all visa applications are subject to security vetting to identify individuals who may pose a threat to the United States.
Every visa decision, the department explained, is a matter of national security, and careful scrutiny is vital to prevent individuals with malicious intent from entering the country. The department highlighted the importance of applicants demonstrating they meet the eligibility criteria and have no adverse intentions toward US interests.
Last month, the US had indicated that the pause on student visa interviews would end soon, urging applicants to continue their applications while waiting for the regular services to resume. Previously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered US diplomatic missions worldwide to suspend student visa interviews to enhance scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity.
The move comes amid increased US government focus on monitoring foreign students following political unrest in campuses related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, with concerns about the protection of Jewish and other international students on US college campuses.
