U.S. Restarts Student Visa Process—But Now Requires Full Social Media Access

WASHINGTON (June 19, 2025) – The U.S. State Department has resumed issuing student visas for F, M, and J applicants after a brief pause, but has introduced a new requirement: applicants must now make their social media accounts public for government review.

What’s Changed

• The visa appointment freeze, ordered in late May, has been lifted now that the State Department has implemented stricter online vetting protocols.

• Under updated guidance, consular staff will review applicants’ Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms. They’re trained to look for content that shows hostility toward U.S. values, institutions, culture, or government, or any advocacy of violence or terrorism.

Who’s Most Affected

• The policy applies to all new and returning international students seeking visas. Those who refuse to set their accounts to public could face denial, the department warns.

• Priority scheduling is being given to applicants with lower international enrollment schools, while applicants from universities with higher international presence—like Ivy League and Harvard—see under heavier scrutiny.

Officials & Critics Respond

• Senior officials argue these measures bolster national security, ensuring no applicant maintains a hidden online life that could indicate extremist ties.

• But critics say this infringes on privacy, free speech, and academic freedom—raising concerns that it transforms visa approval into a political or ideological test.