U.S. lifts student visa ban, adds social media screening requirement

Washington: The U.S. State Department has lifted the ban on student visa processing for international students. However, under the new policy, all applicants must now grant access to their social media accounts.

According to The New York Times, consular officers will review applicants’ online activity—especially posts that may be viewed as critical of the U.S. government, culture, or core values.

The student visa process, which was suspended in May, has now resumed. However, refusal to make social media profiles public may result in rejection.

This move follows earlier signals from the Trump administration, which aimed to tighten visa rules and expand digital background checks on security grounds.