US makes social media disclosure mandatory for student visa applicants

The United States has resumed processing international student visa applications with a new rule requiring applicants to make their social media accounts public.

The mandate applies to all F, M, and J category visa seekers and is intended to help consular officers assess the applicant’s online activity for any “hostile attitudes” towards the country.

According to the US State Department, over 400,000 students apply for visas each year, and every applicant will now undergo social media scrutiny.

Platforms to be reviewed include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others. Officers will examine profiles for signs of anti-American views, ties to terrorist organizations, or antisemitic content.

“The idea is to assess the applicant’s entire online presence,” said a State Department official. “Limited access or any effort to obscure online activity may be interpreted as an attempt to hide information.”

Officers have been instructed to take screenshots and make detailed notes during the process.

The guidelines also permit the use of tools such as LexisNexis and other online databases to build comprehensive digital profiles.

This marks a significant expansion in the visa vetting process, raising concerns about privacy and administrative delays.

Under new internal instructions, priority will be given to students enrolling in institutions where international students make up less than 15% of the total population.

Officials expect the added vetting and prioritization criteria to slow down processing and reduce available appointments.

The announcement comes amid tensions between the Trump administration and major US universities.

Following pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, the government froze ₹2,210 crore ($2.65 billion) in federal funding to Harvard University.

The President has also pushed for a 15% cap on international student enrollment, a move that could affect nearly 200 institutions.

International students contribute more than ₹3.3 lakh crore ($40 billion) annually to the US economy and are a vital part of the higher education landscape.

University officials fear that the new policies could discourage applicants and disrupt the flow of global talent to American campuses.