What’s Happening?
After a temporary pause in Student or Exchange Visitor Visa Appointments, U.S. consulates are resuming scheduling appointments for F-1 and M-1 student visa and J-1 exchange visitor visa applications. However, on June 18, 2025, the State Department (DOS) announced that this return comes with newly expanded vetting measures that may affect processing times and outcomes. The guidance specifically calls for “a review of the applicant’s entire online presence using any appropriate search engines or other online resources,” including “a check of any databases to which the consular section has access.” Additionally, a key aspect of the enhanced screening procedures is mandatory screening of applicants' social media. As part of the social media screening, applicants are being instructed to make all social media accounts public during the visa application process.
Who is Impacted?
As per the DOS announcement, all new and pending applicants in the F, M, and J visa categories—including those previously approved or waived from in-person interviews—are now subject to enhanced screening procedures.
What You Need to Know
While we still don't have many details on how consulates will practically implement the new vetting procedures, some recent applicants have reported receiving emails or notices from embassies stating that restricted or limited visibility of social media activity may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal relevant information. Applicants are specifically being asked to email the consulate disclosing all handles associated with social media platforms (such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Truth Social, TikTok, and LinkedIn) and to ensure all social media accounts are set to “public” to to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility.
The DOS is framing these new procedures as national security measures, and has directed embassies and consulates to vet students for “hostile attitudes towards [US] citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles” and to identify applicants “who advocate for, aid, or support designated terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security; or who perpetrate unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.” If the consular officer finds derogatory information, they can refuse the application, call the applicant back for a follow-up interview, or conduct additional review “to determine whether the foreign national will respect U.S. laws and engage only in activities consistent with their nonimmigrant status.” According to the DOS, every visa decision is treated as a security decision, and the new policy aims to ensure that applicants are clearly eligible for the visa sought and intend to engage in legitimate academic or exchange activities while in the U.S..
At this time, consulates have not released formal guidance on how social media vetting will be conducted, or what specific content may be flagged. However, we are already seeing increased scrutiny in practice, with some applicants reporting delays and additional requests for information after their interviews.
Applicants are encouraged to check the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where they intend to apply for up-to-date appointment availability and any country-specific requirements and to ensure that they are regularly checking the email for additional informational requests both before and after their consular interview.
D&S is continuing to monitor this developing situation and will provide updates as they become available.