Students from around the world who aspire to study in the United States are reducing their online presence, avoiding following celebrities and politicians, deleting related posts, asking family and friends to stop sending news links, and minimizing posting political content on their social media accounts.
The U.S. State Department announced on June 18 that it will resume the foreign student visa application process that was temporarily suspended in May. However, all applicants now must unlock their social media accounts for review by the U.S. government. This policy requires all university, technical training, or exchange program visa applicants to disclose social media accounts used over the past five years.
Consular officers will pay special attention to posts and information that may be considered hostile toward the United States, its government, culture, system, or founding principles, as stated by the State Department.
While the new requirements apply to both new and existing student visa applicants, including those who have not yet had interviews, been exempt from interviews, or had interviews but have not been “approved,” under U.S. law, none of these factors automatically disqualify an applicant from receiving a visa.
However, any “suspicious” online content may trigger additional scrutiny to assess whether an applicant might engage in activities that do not align with their non-immigrant visa status.
International student visa applicants told The Washington Post that their pre-emptive actions on their social media accounts are driven by concerns that even a “like” or an emoji, if misinterpreted, could conflict with the new visa review requirements and potentially jeopardize years of diligent study. Some tech companies are marketing services and apps to foreign visitors (including international students) that help clean and screen sensitive information on their social media accounts.
“I have unfollowed any content that could be considered opinionated. I have unfollowed everyone,” said visa applicant Madeline, who did not disclose her full name to The Washington Post.
Last year, over a million international students studied in the United States.
“This is a common-sense policy,” a senior U.S. State Department official told The Washington Post in response to queries about further details on the review system.
The State Department official stated that officials are looking for evidence of potential threats to national security, such as expressed support for terrorism and “animosity towards Americans and our way of life.”
The State Department emphasizes that applying for a visa is voluntary, and individuals are free to decide whether to travel to the United States.
On Reddit, cautious potential visa applicants are gathering to exchange opinions. Some ask, “Is it best to deactivate activities on social media?” Some urge for it, while others caution against it, warning that such actions could raise suspicions rather than dispel them.
In its June 18 notice, the U.S. State Department emphasized that new applicants who refuse to make their social media accounts “public” for review may be denied visas. The department stated that such resistance could suggest an attempt by the applicant to evade the requirement or conceal their online activities.
“U.S. embassies have broad discretion to grant or deny visas,” U.S. immigration lawyer Richard Herman told The Washington Post. “They will not disclose all the reasons for your denial, and there is no appeals process, and oversight is very weak.”
However, Herman advises students to “take a deep breath. Don’t start deleting accounts.”
Tech companies currently focusing on data deletion and online screening are now promoting services to international students.
Phyllo’s tagline is: “Your journey to America shouldn’t end over an old post.” The company scans clients’ accounts, using a radar system to determine “content risks” and evaluate factors like “religious extremism,” “political content,” and “support of illegal immigration” in the content.
Redact.dev is a company that helps users bulk delete posts on social media platforms. On the second day after the U.S. government released its new guidelines, the company urged visa applicants: “Now is the time to review your online language and expressions, clear outdated views and overly politicized opinions.”
Dan Saltman, CEO and Founder of Redact.dev, reported a 15% month-over-month growth this year, including users from East Asia.
The U.S. State Department requires officials to “review” applicants with a “history of political activity” to assess whether there is a possibility of “continuing such actions” and whether these behaviors could undermine normal academic activities. The department also states to pay specific attention to activities related to violence or extreme views, including anti-Semitic harassment and support for terrorists.
Student Madeline said, “I used to repost a lot of content related to the Gaza conflict. On Instagram, I posted those stories all day.” But during the visa application process, she informed her friends, “From now on, I won’t discuss any political topics.”
The Pie News reported that Mark Kopenski, CEO of a global student recruitment consulting firm, mentioned that while the new requirements could lead to processing delays as consular offices need to adapt to the latest social media review standards, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on most students.
Kopenski explained, “Someone very knowledgeable told me privately that artificial intelligence tools will be used to review students’ social media accounts, primarily looking for radical opinions toward the U.S. and its allies.”
“Students need not worry about the additional review, as it will be completed quickly, and for 99% of students, it won’t be an issue,” he noted.
Ankit Mehra, Co-Founder and CEO of GyanDhan, an Indian education loan platform, shared a similar view, advising that students should not delete any content as authorities can likely access past data, and sudden changes could raise suspicion. It’s best to remain transparent and be prepared.