Now, US wants to review students’ social media accounts as visa process resumes

Now that the suspension has been lifted, the visa process is restarting, but not without new hurdles. According to the State Department, any applicant who refuses to unlock their social media accounts for public viewing could face rejection. Officials will review posts and messages for any content considered hostile to the US government, its culture, institutions, or principles.

Previously, the US had already introduced some social media checks, particularly targeting returning students suspected of joining protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. But the new rule expands that inspection to all new applicants.

A State Department notice made public on Wednesday confirmed that the May suspension had been revoked. However, it said that those unwilling to share their social media activity could be seen as attempting to hide something, a potential red flag during the visa screening process.

One applicant, a 27-year-old PhD student from China studying in Toronto, told the Associated Press that he was relieved to finally secure a visa appointment for next week. “I’ve been refreshing the website a couple of times every day,” said the student. He’s aiming to begin a research internship in the US this July.

Students from India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines have been closely monitoring visa portals and press briefings to track any updates.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the previous order, reflecting the broader Trump administration’s push to tighten immigration controls. That includes not just stricter student visa rules, but also increased deportations and pressure on academic institutions. Harvard University has recently come under fire from the administration for allegedly failing to curb speech and anti-Israel protests.

Separately, the US Embassy in India issued a warning to current and prospective students. It stressed that visa holders must follow all rules attending classes regularly and staying enrolled or risk losing their student status and future visa eligibility.

India, now the largest source of international students in the US for the first time since 2008-09, had over 3.31 lakh students enrolled in American universities in 2024, overtaking China.