The State Department is reviving the processing of student and visiting scholar visa applications, now requiring social media scrutiny for perceived hostility toward the U.S. in a move called an extension of the Trump administration's broader agenda affecting universities.
U.S. State Department Implements Social Media Review for Visa Applicants
U.S. State Department Implements Social Media Review for Visa Applicants
New policy mandates foreign applicants for student and scholar visas to make social media accounts public as part of the screening process.
The State Department is taking significant steps to revise its visa application processes for foreign students and visiting scholars. Announced on June 18, 2025, the department plans to conduct thorough reviews of the social media accounts of applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas as it resumes processing applications, which had been paused for nearly a month.
Officials have stated that applicants will be expected to ensure that their social media profiles are public in order for the State Department to screen for any indication of “hostility” towards the United States. The guidelines detail that consular officers will be alert for signs of negativity towards American citizens, culture, government, and foundational principles, though the department has not clarified how these criteria will be defined.
This policy change is viewed as a continuation of the Trump administration's agenda targeting liberal thought in American universities, indicating a push for more conservative viewpoints within academic institutions, according to some aides of President Trump. This approach appears to aim at controlling the flow of international ideas and fostering a more pro-American narrative among foreign scholars and students. The implications of this policy on academic exchange and collaboration remain to be seen, particularly as it could deter potential international scholars who may feel their freedom of expression is compromised.
Officials have stated that applicants will be expected to ensure that their social media profiles are public in order for the State Department to screen for any indication of “hostility” towards the United States. The guidelines detail that consular officers will be alert for signs of negativity towards American citizens, culture, government, and foundational principles, though the department has not clarified how these criteria will be defined.
This policy change is viewed as a continuation of the Trump administration's agenda targeting liberal thought in American universities, indicating a push for more conservative viewpoints within academic institutions, according to some aides of President Trump. This approach appears to aim at controlling the flow of international ideas and fostering a more pro-American narrative among foreign scholars and students. The implications of this policy on academic exchange and collaboration remain to be seen, particularly as it could deter potential international scholars who may feel their freedom of expression is compromised.
