U.S. Requires Social Media Access for Student Visas

The United States government has introduced a new and stringent requirement for foreign nationals seeking to study in the country: granting public access to their social media profiles. The measure, announced by the Department of State on June 18, marks the resumption of in person interviews for the evaluation and issuance of student visas, which had been suspended since the previous month.

According to the official statement, all new student visa applicants must allow consular officers unrestricted access to their social media accounts. Refusal to unlock these profiles may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal relevant information, potentially resulting in the denial of the visa application. The review will cover the applicant’s entire online presence not limited to social media through the use of search engines and other digital resources.

Authorities stated that posts and messages will be carefully examined, particularly those expressing sentiments deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions, or founding principles. In a diplomatic cable obtained by Reuters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed all U.S. diplomatic missions to identify applicants with a history of political activism, emphasizing that any declared support for groups such as Hamas or criticism of Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict may serve as grounds for ineligibility, as they contradict U.S. foreign policy interests.

This policy is part of a broader package of security measures implemented by the Trump administration, which has significantly tightened immigration rules since President Trump’s return to office. In addition to digital background checks, the administration has expanded the criteria for revoking the legal status of foreign students already residing in the U.S., including cases involving minor infractions or political demonstrations. Institutions like Harvard have also faced direct pressure, with the government proposing limits on international student enrollment and linking federal funding to institutional compliance.

The tightening of these regulations reflects the administration’s more restrictive stance on immigration and the presence of international students in the country. In 2024, approximately 401,000 student visas were issued down from 446,000 in the previous year underscoring a downward trend in the admission of foreign students. With the resumption of interviews and the implementation of new requirements, the visa process is expected to become even more selective and subject to thorough scrutiny.