The U.S. State Department has announced that it will resume processing student visa applications for international students. This decision comes after a temporary halt that began in May. However, with the reopening of the visa process, there is now a new requirement for applicants: `they must give access to their social media accounts’

According to the statement, all new student visa applicants must make their social media accounts public and accessible to U.S. government officials. The goal is to allow consular officers to check for any content that may be considered a threat to the United States .

The department explained that if applicants refuse to allow access or fail to make their accounts public, their applications may be rejected .
Officials said that not cooperating could be seen as an effort to hide something or avoid background checks.

This move follows the Trump administration’s decision last month to pause new visa interviews for foreign students. The delay was meant to give the government time to improve its social media screening process as part of national security efforts.

This new requirement is expected to affect thousands of students worldwide who wish to study in the United States. While the visa process is now back on track, students must now also think about how their online presence might affect their chances of getting a visa.