Department of State Announces Social Media Vetting for Student Visa Applicants

Resumption of Student Visa Appointments with Enhanced Online Vetting

On June 18, 2025, the Department of State announced that visa appointments for student visas could resume pursuant to enhanced vetting of applicants’ online presence. This applies to applicants for F, M and J visas. Applicants for these visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings of their social media accounts to public and consular officers are to look for “potentially derogatory information” and “indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the U.S.” as well as evidence of “advocacy for, aid of or support for designated terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security; or of support for unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.” This is justified as necessary in order to carry out  Executive Order 14161 and Executive Order 14188.

Consular Guidance and Review Process

Further guidance to consular officers includes initially refusing visa applications under INA 221(g) for further review. The review will be conducted by the same officer who conducts the interview and will include any part of the applicants’ online presence, not limited to social media. Consulates were to have implemented the changes by June 23, 2025 and instructed to publicize these vetting procedures on relevant websites. Consulates have also been told to limit appointments for F, M and J visas as necessary in order to complete the enhanced review and to prioritize J-1 Physicians and F-1 students enrolled at universities where international students make up less than 15% of the student body.