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U.S. Reinstates Student Visa Procedures Incorporating Compulsory Social Media Background Checks

U.S. State Department Restarts Student Visa Processing, Demands Access to Applicants' Public Social Media Accounts for Scrutiny; Officers to Seek Content Opposing U.S. Values. AP Reveals Preference for Candidates Joining Schools with Fewer than 15% Foreign Students.

Student Visa Applications in U.S. Require Social Media Account Reviews
Student Visa Applications in U.S. Require Social Media Account Reviews

U.S. Reinstates Student Visa Procedures Incorporating Compulsory Social Media Background Checks

Here's the unleashed, revamped article:

Say goodbye to private social media accounts if you're an international student aiming to study in the Land of the Free. That's right, banish any thoughts of keeping your digital secrets hidden - the US has recently cracked down on student visa applicants, requiring them to publicly share their social media profiles.

On the hunt for any content that could be deemed hostile to the States, Uncle Sam's consular officers will now root through your digital profiles like a seasoned detectives, all in the name of national security. Don't say we didn't warn ya.

According to some hard-hitting AP reports, this new stirring-the-pot policy was announced amidst the growing pressure faced by international students under the current US immigration strategy. Remember when some of 'em lost their legal status over simple traffic violations? Well, turns out, many of those decisions have since been reversed.

Good ol' Donald Trump's administration hasn't been sitting still either. They've proposed a 15% limit on foreign enrollment at top-tier universities, like every single Ivy League university and large state schools like the University of Illinois and Penn State, asserting that American students need more access.

This new screening requirement doesn't apply to all student visa applicants unscathed. In fact, consular officers have been instructed to prioritize applications from students enrolling at institutions where international students represent less than 15% of the total student body.

This means your chances of getting that golden visa might be slimmer if you're planning on attending a top-tier institution. You know, the places where most of us dream of studying - think Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. You catch my drift?

As for the privacy and freedom of expression haters out there, this new requirement has raised quite a few concerns. Imagine having your social media activity being scrutinized by big brother-style government officials, potentially leading to your visa denial. Yikes!

This new policy has caused quite the stir, making some potential students reconsider their plans or delay their attendance at US universities. It's a dark cloud hanging over the American education system, calling into question its welcoming image and, dare I say, its commitment to academic freedom.

  1. The increasing scrutiny of student visa applicants' social media profiles in the United States, as part of the current immigration strategy, has been highlighted in several news reports, shedding light on the intersection of education, policy-and-legislation, and politics.
  2. In contrast, India's response to this controversial policy has been relatively silent, with little news coverage or discussion about its effects on Indian students planning to study in the US.
  3. Meanwhile, the ongoing debate about the 15% limit on foreign enrollment at top-tier universities in the US, a proposed policy by the Trump administration, has sparked general news discussions on the potential impact on student diversity and academic excellence, both within the US and internationally.

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