The United States has resumed visa applications for foreign students but has introduced strict new guidelines.
On Wednesday, 18th June 2025, the US State Department announced that it had lifted the suspension on student visa processing, which had been imposed in May 2025.
However, it warned that new applicants who refuse to make their social media accounts public for review risk being denied a visa.
Furthermore, the department stated that such refusals may suggest an attempt to evade scrutiny or conceal online activity.
The Trump administration last month temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students wishing to study in the United States (US).
US Visa Strict Checks
An official statement dated June 18, 2025 and sent to U.S. missions on Wednesday directs consular officers to conduct a comprehensive vetting of all student and exchange visitor visa applicants.
“Remind the applicant that limited access to online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity,” the statement read.
The directive, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to identify individuals who may harbour hostile attitudes towards American citizens, values, government, institutions, or foundational principles.
Additionally, he said that updated guidance would be released once a review was completed.
Also Read: UK Visa Agency Announces Application Changes for Kenyan Applicants
Make Your Social Media Accounts Public
The updated vetting process is expected to go beyond social media and include a comprehensive review of the applicant’s entire online presence. Officers have been directed to use appropriate search engines and other online tools to support their assessment.
They are instructed to identify any potentially negative or concerning information associated with the applicant.
Trump’s top diplomat and national security adviser, Marco Rubio, has stated that he has revoked the visas of hundreds, possibly thousands of individuals, including students, for engaging in actions he claimed were contrary to U.S. foreign policy priorities.
Also Read: China Criticizes US Unjustified Move to Cancel Student Visas
US Bans Foreign Students’ Applications
The Trump administration ordered US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants in May 2025.
An official memo stated that social media vetting for student and foreign exchange visas would be tightened, with major implications for US embassies and consulates.
Although the new directive permits posts to resume scheduling appointments for student and exchange visa applicants, it cautions that the number of appointments may need to be reduced due to the increased time and resources required for the expanded vetting process.
