US to Screen Student Visa Applicants’ Social Media

The U.S. State Department is restarting student visa applications, but with a significant change. Foreign students must now unlock their social media accounts for government review. This move is raising concerns about free speech and privacy.

New Rules for Visa Seekers

The State Department declared it would reinstate its suspended student visa processing, which had been halted in May. Any new applicant who refuses to make their social media public and subject to review could face rejection. Officials believe this refusal could conceal online activity or be an attempt to circumvent requirements.

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“This policy makes a censor of every consular officer, and it will inevitably chill legitimate political speech both inside and outside the United States,”

—Jameel Jaffer, Executive Director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University

According to the Institute of International Education, the number of international students in the U.S. has decreased by 15% since 2019 (IIE 2024).

Impact and Scope

U.S. consulates will prioritize students intending to enroll at colleges where less than 15% of the student body is foreign. However, international students make up more than that percentage at nearly 200 U.S. universities, including almost all Ivy League schools.

The State Department will be looking for any signs of hostility toward U.S. citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles. The move has prompted concern about the potential for political censorship.

The policy will likely affect thousands of international students, many of whom are urgently awaiting visa interviews, hoping to begin their studies or research in the upcoming academic year. This decision has created a significant challenge for foreign students and universities alike.