The United States is set to resume student and exchange visa application appointments at its overseas embassies and consulates, the State Department has announced.
This development comes with a major update: all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas, which include academic students, vocational students, and exchange visitors, will now be subject to expanded screening and vetting, including checks on their public social media activity.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Spokesperson, the Department confirmed that consular posts worldwide would soon begin scheduling visa interviews, offering renewed hope to thousands of international students aiming to study or participate in cultural exchanges in the United States.
Our overseas posts will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications soon. Applicants should check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability, the Department stated.
However, the resumption comes with a heightened security posture. In a move to strengthen U.S. borders and protect its citizens, the State Department is now requiring all applicants in these categories to adjust the privacy settings of their social media profiles to ‘public’ as part of their vetting process.
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 Department noted.
This expanded scrutiny reflects Washington’s emphasis on national security, especially in light of growing concerns about misinformation, extremism, and foreign influence campaigns spreading via online platforms.
A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right, the Department emphasised.
Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. 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, it stated.
Under the new guidelines, all F, M, and J visa applicants will need to ensure that their online activity aligns with the terms of their visa class and does not indicate risk to U.S. public safety or security.
Applicants must credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission, the Department added.
The expanded screening protocol is expected to affect tens of thousands of prospective students and exchange visitors, many of whom had previously encountered delays or backlogs due to pandemic-era disruptions or heightened security reviews.
As embassies prepare to reopen their appointment calendars, the State Department is urging applicants to stay informed by regularly checking their respective embassy or consulate websites for updates on scheduling.
