The State Department temporarily paused student visa interviews late last month as it considered adding social media vetting to the application process.
The State Department announced new vetting requirements on June 18, including social media screening for all student visa applicants.
“The State Department is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the State Department said in a press release.
While student visa interviews—previously paused as the government reviewed its visa policy—have resumed, applicants will now be expected to set their social media profiles to “public” to allow screening by U.S. diplomatic officials. Failure to do so could be interpreted as an effort to hide certain online activity.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that criticism of either the United States or Israel could be grounds for rejecting a student visa application.
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the State Department said. “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, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.”
The development comes roughly three weeks after a senior State Department official confirmed to The Epoch Times that it had ordered American embassies worldwide to pause student visa interviews as the agency works to enhance its vetting process.
In an internal cable signed by Rubio and leaked to the media on May 27, the agency said it was considering making strict social media vetting a requirement for all foreign students applying to study in the United States.
By Jacob Burg
