The US resumes student visa processing, implementing US Student Visa Rules requiring applicants to make social media profiles public for enhanced security vetting

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ew US Student Visa Rules have been announced as the United States resumes the previously suspended process for foreign nationals applying for student visas.

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Under the updated policy, all applicants will now make their social media accounts available for review.

This expanded screening forms part of an effort by the US Department of State to enhance vetting procedures for visa applicants.

The US government had temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students hoping to study in the country back in May.

A spokesperson for the department recently confirmed the resumption of these services. They emphasised that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, underscoring the stringent nature of the application process.

The spokesperson stated, “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.”

Under the new guidance, the department will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants within the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.

To facilitate this vetting process, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will receive instructions to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to public.

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.

US overseas posts are set to resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications imminently.

The State Department reiterated its commitment to protecting the nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through its visa process.

Applicants are advised to check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability. “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,”

the statement stressed. It also noted that the United States must remain vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission do not intend to harm Americans or national interests.

All applicants must credibly establish their eligibility for the visa type, demonstrating an intent to engage in activities consistent with the terms of their admission.

Nigeria currently holds the position as Africa’s leading source of international students enrolling in the United States, with 20,029 students for the 2023/2024 academic year.

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Globally, Nigeria ranks 7th among countries sending students to the US. This new policy will directly impact a significant number of Nigerian aspiring scholars.