TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The U.S. State Department has reinstated the processing of foreign student visas with heightened scrutiny, officials announced on Wednesday (June 18). The new policy mandates all applicants disclose their social media accounts for review, a measure designed to verify applicants maintain favorable attitudes toward the United States. This development comes after the Trump administration's controversial suspension of student visa interviews in late May, a decision that triggered widespread anxiety among international students and their families.
The enhanced vetting procedure will affect all foreign nationals applying for F, M, and J visas, which cover academic students, vocational students, and educational exchange participants respectively. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has formalized the policy through an official cable, stipulating that consular officers will scrutinize applicants' online presence as part of the review process. The policy will be implemented within five business days. State Department officials have explicitly cautioned that applicants who decline to provide their social media information risk having their visa applications rejected.
The policy has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties advocates. Jameel Jaffer, who serves as executive director of Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute, condemned the approach, comparing it to ideological screening practices employed during the Cold War era. The academic community has also voiced apprehension, with numerous educators warning that such intensive vetting could deter prospective international students from considering U.S. institutions. These critics further suggested that the review process might effectively function as a political litmus test for foreign applicants. ◼