US Tightens Student Visa Rules with Social Media Checks for Foreign Students

The US State Department is tightening its grip on student visas, introducing a new rule that requires applicants to open up their social media profiles to scrutiny. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance national security by vetting foreign nationals more thoroughly before they enter the country.

A Closer Look at Social Media

Consular officers will now thoroughly examine the social media accounts of student visa applicants to detect any signs of “hostility” towards the US. To facilitate the process, applicants will be asked to make their profiles public. According to the State Department, failure to comply with this request could lead to their visa application being rejected. The department’s officials argue that this measure will help ensure that visitors to the US are properly assessed.

The new policy is a response to growing concerns about national security, particularly in the context of university campuses. The US government has been under pressure to strengthen its vetting processes for foreign students, who make up about 5.9% of the nearly 19 million students in the country. Most foreign students pay full tuition fees, which helps offset costs and enables universities to provide more financial aid to American students.

Tighter Visa Rules

The latest move is part of a larger crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration, which has already seen restrictions on foreign nationals entering the US to study at certain universities, including Harvard. Although a judge has temporarily blocked this particular measure, the administration remains committed to tightening visa rules. The new policy on social media scrutiny is expected to further complicate the process for foreign students seeking to study in the US, which already involves rigorous checks on academic credentials, financial resources, and intentions to return home after completing their studies.

In related news, Senator Marco Rubio had previously signaled his support for stricter visa rules, citing concerns about foreign students engaging in anti-American activities. His comments came after the arrest of a Tufts University PhD student, Rumaissa al-Osta, who was later released on bail pending deportation proceedings. Rubio’s statement highlighted the need for the US to be cautious when granting visas to individuals who may be involved in activities that could harm the country or its interests.

The source of this information is japantimes.

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