US Resumes Foreign Student Visa Processing; Demands Social Media Access

The U.S. has announced that it is resuming the suspended interviews for foreigners applying for student visas. 

However, application will now require monitoring of the social media activities of the applicants. 

The U.S. Department of State said all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for review in an attempt to expand screening and vetting for visa applicants. 

The government had, in May, temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. 

The department’s spokesperson, in a statement, said a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. 

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security. 

“Under new guidance, the department will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications. 

“To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to public.” 

It also announced that the U.S. overseas posts will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications soon. 

The State Department said it was “committed to protecting the nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through its visa process”. 

It also advised visa applicants to check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability. 

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the statement stressed. 

“The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests,” it said.