The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it is resuming the process of suspending foreigners applying for student visas, but all applicants will need to unlock their social media accounts for government review.
The department said the consular officers are looking for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or establishment principles.
In a notice published Wednesday, the department said it had cancelled its suspension of student visa processing but could be denied new applicants who set their social media accounts to “public” and refuse to allow reviews. He said refusing to do so could be a sign they are trying to avoid the requirements or trying to hide their online activities.
The Trump administration temporarily suspended scheduling new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the US last month, officials said, while preparing to expand screening for social media activities.
Students around the world were waiting worriedly for our consulate to resume bookings for visa interviews. Windows are left to book trips and narrow housing arrangements before the start of the school year.
On Wednesday afternoon, the 27-year-old PhD Toronto student was able to secure an appointment for a visa interview next week. Chinese students hope to travel to the US for research internships that begin in late July. “I feel really relieved,” the student said. The student was worried about being targeted, so he spoke on the condition that he would be identified only by his last name, Chen. “I've refreshed my website several times every day.”
Students from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines have posted to their social media sites that they are closely watching the State Department's press briefing to monitor visa booking websites and get indications that appointment scheduling may resume.
In reopening the visa process, the State Department also told the consulate that it would prioritize students who wish to register with universities where foreigners make up less than 15% of student organizations, a U.S. official familiar with the matter said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to detail the information that has not been published.
Foreign students account for more than 15% of the total student organizations of universities near the US, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal education data in 2023. Most are private universities that include all eight Ivy League schools. However, those criteria also include 26 public universities, including the University of Illinois and Pennsylvania State University. Looking at undergraduate students alone, foreign students account for more than 15% of the population at around 100 universities, almost all of which are private.
International students in the US face increasing scrutiny in several aspects. In the spring, the Trump administration revoked permission to study in the US for thousands of students, including some who were involved solely in traffic crime, before suddenly turning the course back. The government has also expanded the basis for foreign students to end their legal status.
As part of a pressure campaign aimed at Harvard, the Trump administration has now blocked international students at Ivy League schools, which rely on international students, keeping in mind a quarter of tuition fees and registrations. Trump said Harvard should limit foreign registrations to 15%.
The State Department said Wednesday “ensures that we are properly screening all those who are trying to visit our country,” the Department said.
In internal guidance sent to consulate officers, the department said it should be looking for “signs of hostility towards citizens, culture, government, institutions, or the principles of establishment of the United States.”
Jameel Jaffer, executive director of Columbia University's Night First Revision Institute, said the new policy evokes the ideological examination of the Cold War when notable artists and intellectuals are removed from the United States.
“This policy will inevitably cool down legitimate political speeches both inside and outside the United States,” Jaffer said.
The Trump administration is also calling for 36 countries to promise to improve traveler reviews or face a ban on citizens visiting the United States. The weekend diplomatic cable sent by the State Department says it has 60 days to address concerns and risks that will add to the travel ban, including 12 countries.
