US Resumes Student Visa Interviews; Applicants Must Set Social Media Accounts To 'Public'

The United States administration has ordered the resumption of student visa appointments. According to a recent announcement made by the US State Department, all students applying for a visa will need to set their social media profiles to "public". On May 27, the administration issued a directive to cease scheduling new appointments.

"We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security," said the State Department. "Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications," the announcement added.

The move comes amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on universities. Among the measures in Trump's crackdown is the freezing of substantial federal funds allocated to universities. Harvard University, facing $2.65 billion in frozen federal grants, is among the institutions scrutinised by the president.