US Tightens Student Visa Rules: Stricter Social Media Scrutiny

Web Desk: Securing a student visa for the US is set to become even more challenging for foreign students, as the American government has decided to impose stricter scrutiny on visa applications.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered a more rigorous vetting process for student and other visa applicants. Under this directive, US diplomats have been instructed to examine the social media accounts of individuals applying for visas.

According to Rubio, the purpose of this measure is to prevent individuals who criticize the US and Israel from entering the country. A report by The New York Times states that these directives were issued to diplomatic missions on March 25 through a detailed memorandum.

This decision follows a recent executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, which allows the deportation of foreign nationals with critical views against US citizens, culture, government, institutions, or principles. Similarly, another executive order was issued targeting foreign individuals, including students, who have criticized Israel.

The memorandum from the Secretary of State emphasizes the immediate implementation of these directives. Consular officials have been instructed to forward the names of specific students and other applicants to the fraud prevention unit for a thorough review of their social media activity.

This unit operates within US embassies, handling visa issuances and applicant screenings. The memorandum specifies the categories of applicants whose social media posts require scrutiny, including:

• Individuals suspected of having links to or supporting terrorist organizations.
• Students or individuals who obtained a student or exchange visa between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024.
• Individuals whose visas expired in October.

These specific dates indicate that the measures are being implemented in response to the increasing global criticism of Israel. It is worth noting that on October 7, 2023, Israel launched a brutal war against Gaza, which continues to this day.

Experts believe that these strict measures are primarily aimed at targeting students and individuals who have expressed support for Palestinians on social media. As a result, foreign students aspiring to pursue higher education in the US may face additional hurdles in obtaining a visa.