Trump Admin Adds Online Vetting for Student Visa Applicants

The Trump administration has issued new guidance requiring foreign student visa applicants to make their social media accounts publicly accessible as part of heightened national security vetting procedures, as reported by The New York Post.

A diplomatic cable sent Wednesday by the State Department to U.S. embassies and consulates outlined the new protocol, which instructs officials to examine the online activity of all student visa applicants for potential security risks.

According to the cable, consular officers must search for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”

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The policy is intended to identify applicants who may pose threats to national security, including support for terrorism or anti-American ideologies.

The cable, reviewed by multiple media outlets, includes examples such as online endorsements of terrorist groups like Hamas, or content supporting antisemitic harassment or violence.

“During an online presence search, you might discover on social media that an applicant endorsed Hamas or its activities,” the cable stated.

The memo expands the definition of “online presence” beyond traditional social media platforms like Facebook and X. It directs consular officers to use tools such as LexisNexis and other public records databases to conduct comprehensive background checks.

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Officers are also instructed to flag individuals who show a “history of political activism” and to document findings thoroughly. This includes taking screenshots of social media posts and other digital records to preserve evidence that could later be altered or deleted.

Officers must also take “detailed case notes” during the review process.

These new measures apply to both first-time and returning student visa applicants. However, the cable notes that flagged content may not automatically disqualify an applicant. In some cases, additional screening may be required before a decision is made.

The move comes as the State Department prepares to resume consular appointments for student and exchange visitor visas, following a temporary suspension last month.

The cable also urges embassies and consulates to prioritize visa processing for medical professionals seeking J-1 exchange visitor visas and for students applying to institutions where international students make up 15% or less of the total enrollment.

The State Department has not publicly commented on the memo or its implementation timeline.

The enhanced vetting directive marks a continuation of the Trump administration’s broader effort to increase scrutiny on foreign nationals entering the United States under non-immigrant visa categories, particularly for students and exchange visitors.

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