Now it has stopped scheduling all new visa interviews for foreign students. This new step has been taken while the US State Department is planning to verify social media before granting visas. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Social Media Vetting) said in an internal cable seen by Reuters that the department plans to issue updated guidelines on verifying the social media of student and exchange visitor applicants. Consulates have been recommended to stop scheduling such visa appointments.
The State Department's broad plan to make social media vetting mandatory for all international students studying in the US (Visa Interviews), a move that could disrupt the student visa process. It could put financial strain on American universities. But what is social media vetting?
What is social media vetting?
Social media vetting involves verifying an applicant’s online activity to determine their eligibility for admission. Officials will review prospective students social media profiles to determine whether they should be allowed to study at U.S. institutions. The initiative is seen as part of a broader crackdown on international students by the Trump administration following widespread pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses last year.
The State Department directive did not specify what kind of broad vetting the administration was planning. But it did mention executive orders to keep out terrorists and combat anti-Semitism. For example, could a student who posted a photo of a Palestinian flag on X’s account be subject to additional vetting? That’s not clear, Politico reported.
Students and faculty have also been subject to action in the past over social media posts. In March, Brown University professor Dr. Rasha Alawi was expelled after photos of Iran’s supreme leader were found on her phone. She also attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in February.
What about scheduled interviews?
For students who have already scheduled their appointments, there is nothing to worry about. Rubio said that these scheduled appointments can proceed according to current guidelines, but that available appointments that have not already been taken should be canceled. The department is reviewing its current operations and procedures for screening and vetting student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants. Based on that review, it plans to issue guidance for expanded social media screening for all such applicants, it said.
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