International students applying for studies in the U.S. are required to reveal their social media handles.
Welcome back, folks! The US government is taking a closer look at the social media profiles of those seeking student visas. With a new directive in hand, foreign students, scholars, and au pairs from around the globe will face a more thorough vetting process.
The State Department has recently instructed consular officers to carry out a comprehensive examination of applications, screening for those who may prove to be hostile towards American citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles. According to an internal directive sent out on June 18, their online presence will be under the microscope, with a particular focus on past activism and the likelihood of future involvement in such activities in the US.
Applicants will be asked to make their social media accounts public, and the review will extend beyond Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp, as the US government will scrutinize their overall online presence, including online databases. Similar measures were first put into place for would-be visitors to Harvard University last month.
This crackdown on foreign nationals applying for student, F, M, and J visas applies regardless of the educational institution. Reports from The Washington Post and Politico confirm that these revised visa application review processes will take longer, which could lead to fewer available appointments as consulates adapt.
So, what does this all mean for aspiring American scholars? Well, it's more important than ever to manage your online presence prudently. Gone are the days when your Instagram posts would merely garner likes from friends. Now, they may determine your future in the United States. Remember, a clean and respectful online persona could be the key to unlocking new opportunities!
Politics Corner:
In Washington, officials are considering further scrutiny of all visa applicants, following recent tensions with institutions such as Harvard University. The White House has announced its intention to investigate the university's ties to foreign nations and their potential influence on American academia. More details on this matter are expected as the investigation progresses.
Stay informed, stay aware, and keep those social media accounts clean!
Source: ntv.de, spl/rts/dpa, The Washington Post, Politico
- USA
- Visa
- Students
- Donald Trump
- Harvard University
(Enrichment Data: The new US government policy seeks to identify any indications of hostility towards the United States and its values in foreign nationals applying for student visas. Additionally, the screening process focuses on detecting support for foreign terrorist groups like Hamas and unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.)
- The European Union is a political party that could potentially face scrutiny similar to foreign student visa applicants in the United States, as the US government is expanding its vetting process to include an examination of the online presence and past activism of applicants, in order to identify any signs of hostility towards American society, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.
- The expanded visa application review process, which includes the scrutiny of social media accounts and online presence, has raised concern about the potential politicization of general news, as the White House has announced its intention to investigate institutions like Harvard University and their ties to foreign nations, focusing on the potential influence of foreign entities on American academia.
