The State Department has updated its student visa application process to require international students to provide access to their public social media accounts. The measure—implemented yesterday—aims to bolster vetting efforts amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Consular officers will now review social media posts and messages for any content deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. The department said applicants who refuse to make their social media profiles public may be denied visas, citing such refusals as possible attempts to conceal problematic online behavior.
The Trump administration had paused new student visa interviews last month while preparing to roll out expanded digital vetting procedures, officials said.
Students worldwide have expressed concern as delays in the visa process jeopardized travel and housing plans ahead of the fall semester.
On Wednesday, a 27-year-old Chinese Ph.D. student based in Toronto secured an interview appointment for next week, providing a glimmer of hope for many. “I’m really relieved,” said the student, who asked to be identified only by his surname, Chen, due to safety concerns. “I’ve been refreshing the website a couple of times every day.”
Applicants from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines have been closely monitoring consulate websites and State Department briefings for updates on appointment availability.
In addition to the new screening protocols, the State Department instructed consulates to prioritize applicants to colleges where international students make up less than 15% of the student body, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal guidance.
An Associated Press analysis of 2023 federal data found that more than 200 U.S. universities exceed the 15% threshold, including all eight Ivy League schools and 26 public institutions such as the University of Illinois and Pennsylvania State University.
Foreign students in the U.S. have come under increased scrutiny in recent months. Earlier this year, the administration briefly revoked legal study status for thousands of international students—some for minor infractions—before reversing the decision. It also broadened the criteria under which foreign students can lose their immigration status.
The Trump administration has additionally targeted institutions such as Harvard University, pushing for limits on international enrollment. President Donald Trump has publicly called for capping foreign enrollment at 15%, criticizing the reliance on tuition from international students.
“The new social media checks will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country,” the State Department said in its notice Wednesday.
