The U.S. has resumed issuing student visas for foreign applicants but now requires them to give access to their social media accounts as part of the screening process.

 Washington, June 19 – The U.S. State Department has resumed processing student visa applications after a temporary suspension but is now requiring all applicants to make their social media accounts publicly accessible for government review.

Officials say the move is part of increased efforts to screen applicants for any online content that might be seen as hostile toward the U.S., its government, culture, or values. Applicants who don’t make their social media profiles public may be denied a visa, as refusal could be seen as an attempt to hide potentially concerning activity.

The Trump administration had paused new visa interview appointments last month as it prepared to tighten the screening process. With the school year approaching, students around the world have been anxiously waiting for the process to restart. One Chinese Ph.D. student in Toronto, for example, said he was relieved to finally secure an interview slot after checking the website multiple times a day.

Students from countries like China, India, Mexico, and the Philippines have been sharing updates online and closely watching U.S. government briefings for any changes.

As visa processing resumes, the State Department has instructed consulates to give priority to students applying to colleges where international students make up less than 15% of the student population. According to 2023 federal data, more than 15% of students are international at nearly 200 U.S. universities — mostly private institutions, including all Ivy League schools, and some public ones like the University of Illinois and Penn State.

International students in the U.S. have faced growing scrutiny. Earlier this year, thousands of students lost their right to study over relatively minor legal issues, although that policy was later reversed. The administration has also increased the reasons for which foreign students can lose their visa status.

The Trump administration has also pushed for caps on international student numbers at top schools like Harvard, suggesting foreign enrollment should be limited to 15%.

The State Department says the new social media policy is necessary to “properly screen every person” entering the U.S. Internal guidance to visa officers urges them to look for any signs of anti-American sentiment online.

However, critics say this could infringe on free speech. Jameel Jaffer, from the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, likened the new rule to Cold War-era ideological vetting and warned it could discourage open political expression worldwide.

In addition, the U.S. has asked 36 countries to improve how they screen travelers. If they don’t comply within 60 days, their citizens could be added to an expanded travel ban list, which currently includes 12 countries.