US Implements Stricter Social Media Vetting for Student and Exchange Visa Applicants

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The US State Department has issued new directives requiring overseas officials to scrutinize the social media accounts of select student and exchange visitor visa applicants. The move aims to prevent individuals critical of the US and Israel from entering the country, according to media reports.

A 1,700-word cable, titled “Action Request: Enhanced Screening and Social Media Vetting for Visa Applicants,” was sent by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on March 25. It details the mandatory screening process consular officers must follow when reviewing visa applications.

The enhanced vetting applies to those suspected of ties to terrorism, individuals who held a student or exchange visa between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024, and applicants whose visas have been revoked since October 7, 2023. Officials must refer such cases to the Fraud Prevention Unit for a mandatory social media check.

Social Media Scrutiny and Visa Denials

The directive instructs consular officers to flag any "derogatory information" suggesting an applicant may be ineligible under terrorism-related provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This includes "advocating for, sympathizing with, or persuading others to support terrorist activities or designated foreign terrorist organizations."

Applicants do not necessarily have to express explicit support for terrorist groups to be denied a visa. The cable states that a “hostile attitude toward US citizens or culture” or even “public advocacy” for certain organizations may justify refusal.

Some guidelines remain intentionally vague, allowing flexibility in their application, a State Department official told media.

Visa Revocations Under Rubio

Since taking office in January, Rubio has revoked at least 300 visas granted to students, visitors, and other individuals. He has emphasized a firm stance, stating:

"If they’re taking activities that are counter to our national interest, to our foreign policy, we’ll revoke the visa."

He has also endorsed immediate visa cancellations for holders charged with crimes while in the US.

High-Profile Cases

Last month, Rubio revoked green card status for two pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University: Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born US resident married to an American citizen, and Yunseo Chung, a South Korean who has lived in the US since childhood. Khalil was detained by immigration authorities in Louisiana.

Rubio defended the measures, stating in a CBS interview:

“We don’t want people in our country who will commit crimes or undermine our national security… If you violate the terms of your visa, you will leave.”

The policy has sparked debate over its implications for international students and freedom of expression. The State Department has yet to comment on the number of additional applicants who may be impacted.