US Resumes Student Visa Interviews, Mandates Public Social Media Profiles for Vetting
The United States announced the resumption of student visa interviews, paused since May 27. A new policy requires applicants to set their social media profiles to "public" for comprehensive vetting. The State Department emphasized national security, aiming to identify applicants with hostile attitudes or violent activism history. This change significantly impacts prospective international students, including many from India, by adding a new layer of scrutiny to the visa process.
Unpacked:
Student visa interviews were likely paused due to administrative or security reviews, or to update procedures in line with new policies. Such pauses can also occur due to changes in global health conditions or geopolitical events, but the summary does not specify the exact reason.
Requiring public social media profiles increases the visibility of applicants’ personal information, exposing them to greater scrutiny by authorities and potentially third parties. This raises concerns about privacy, data security, and the possibility of misinterpretation of online content.
India is one of the largest sources of international students to the US, with tens of thousands applying annually. This new policy could affect a substantial portion of these applicants, as they must now comply with additional social media requirements to complete the visa process.
The US government emphasizes national security as the main reason, aiming to detect and prevent entry of individuals with hostile attitudes or histories of violent activism, thereby safeguarding the country and its institutions from potential threats.