In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Department of State has implemented new security screening procedures for all F, M, and J visa applicants, mandating that foreign students and exchange visitors must make their social media accounts public as part of the visa application process.
The policy, effective June 25, 2025, applies to individuals seeking to enter the United States as academic students (F), vocational students (M), or exchange visitors (J). U.S. consular officers are now authorized to actively review public posts, interactions, and affiliations on social media before issuing a visa decision.
Visa Process Now Includes Online Behavior Check
According to the Department of State, the change is part of enhanced national security protocols and is aimed at detecting potential threats through online behavior. Previously, since 2019, visa applicants were required to list their social media handles on the visa application. However, there was no obligation to make profiles public or provide access to private content.
Now, if an applicant’s profile is not set to public, it may be deemed non-compliant with the application requirements.
“If you want a visa, you’ve got to put your social media on public as a student,” said American immigration attorney Akuo O. Aboagye, in a video posted on her professional Instagram page.
“Previously, the officer could simply note the social media handle. Now they will first assess basic eligibility, and then, as a second step, conduct a thorough review of your public online activity.”
Likes, Follows, and Affiliations Could Lead to Denial
In guidance distributed to consular officers via internal cable, the Department of State reportedly indicated that even likes and follows on certain pages — not just posts or comments — could influence visa outcomes.
“If you’re liking pages or posts that are considered hostile to U.S. interests, even if you haven’t commented, that could be a red flag,” Aboagye explained in the video.
The cable reportedly notes that affiliations with online communities deemed inimical to U.S. policies or national security — including support for terrorism, political extremism, or disinformation networks — could result in visa denials.
Advocates Warn of Chilling Effect on International Applicants
Immigration attorneys and education advocates have warned that the new rule may have a chilling effect on prospective international students and visiting scholars who are concerned about how speech and digital expression may be interpreted.
Privacy advocates have also raised alarms, arguing the requirement infringes on freedom of expression and may lead to unequal treatment based on political or cultural views expressed online.
Universities and cultural exchange sponsors are now advising students to scrub their social media accounts and review all public activity — including pages liked, groups joined, and people followed — to avoid any unintended consequences.
Legal Implications and Monitoring
While the Department of State has broad discretion in issuing visas, the expansion of social media surveillance raises ongoing legal questions about transparency, discrimination, and due process in immigration screening.
Immigration lawyers expect this rule to be challenged in federal court or in future congressional hearings, particularly if visa denials rise or are perceived to target applicants from specific countries or backgrounds.
