The US Department of State (DOS) issued a press release announcing further screening of visa applicants, extending to social media activity. This announcement was made after the department paused vetting visa applicants in May. As of June 18, it has resumed this process, which will be conducted alongside new guidelines.
“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the DOS stated in the release.
Addressing its “new guidance,” and what it entails, the DOS “will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.”
Further explaining how it will vet “online presence,” the department states that applicants applying for “F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public.’”
On Instagram and X, a profile can be made private, allowing only accepted followers to see a user’s posts. Who the user follows, and who is following them, are also inaccessible through a private account. The DOS now requires visa applicants to make their profiles public for examination.
An example of content specifically being vetted that poses a threat to US national security was not provided by the State Department. However, at the conclusion of its release, the DOS hinted at what they would screen in applicants’ social media accounts.
“The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission,” the DOS stated.
