U.S. Resumes Student Visas - But It’s Not Business as Usual
- visa code
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
After weeks of disruption, the United States has officially resumed processing student and exchange visas (F, M, and J categories). However, this restart comes with an important caveat: applicants must now undergo expanded social media screening as part of the vetting process. The official news is available here:
This significant policy update, announced by the State Department on June 18, 2025, marks a new chapter in U.S. immigration procedures-one that combines the reopening of visa services with intensified digital surveillance.
Students must check the local U.S. Consular Mission news for updates on the resumption of interviews.
What’s Changing?
Visa Services to Resume
U.S. embassies and consulates will resume scheduling visa appointments for international students and scholars. The Department of State earlier paused the visa interviews for FMJ students on May 27, 2025, to provide more guidance to consular posts across the globe on the comprehensive vetting of visa applicants including the social media presence.
Mandatory Social Media Disclosure
Under new guidance, the consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.
Moving forward, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas must make their social media profiles “public”. Failure to do so, may result in delay or denial of visa applications.
The guidance will impact the new student visa applications including the applications under Dropbox Interview Waiver program and those applications pending administrative processing.
Fewer Appointments Owing to Extreme Vetting
The U.S. consular posts across the globe must implement these vetting procedures within 5 business days. Owing to extreme vetting, we expect fewer appointments and which will discourage the students to seek admission from a University in the U.S.
The consular officers are requested to prioritize
J-1 exchange visitors visa for physicians participating in a medical program and
Student applicants looking to pursue a course in the U.S. University that currently hosts 15% or less international students in total. Ivy League Schools are being exempted from this threshold.
The Visa Code’s Take
We’re entering a new phase where visa decisions may be influenced not just by legal violations, but also by digital impressions.This places immense pressure on students to sanitize or even self-censor their online identities. It’s no longer enough to be eligible - you must also be ideologically 'acceptable'.
Students visa applicants must:
Avoid political memes or controversial humor,
Refrain from posting emotionally charged political content,
Seek legal help if you think you will be questioned about past online activity.
It must be noted that non-compliance or evasion , like refusing to provide access, can be interpreted as a red flag or lack of transparency, even if no wrongdoing exists.
Unless a court issues an order blocking the implementation of this guidance on privacy grounds, students are required to comply with the new social media transparency requirements being enforced by U.S. consular missions worldwide under the direction of the U.S. Department of State.
What Applicants Should Do Now
Audit your online presence - Remove or hide content that could be misinterpreted as radical or anti-American.
Prepare to explain past posts - Officers may question past likes, shares, or comments. Even sarcasm or activism may require context.
Stay updated through schools or immigration attorneys - Many universities are now issuing guidance on handling this new screening process.
Final Word
The U.S. reopening its doors to foreign students is welcome news, but it's a conditional welcome, shaped by new political and security realities. As the lines between public discourse and immigration law continue to blur, international applicants must navigate not just forms and interviews, but also the digital footprints of their past.
Need Guidance? Contact Us
The current visa guidelines are more complex than ever. With heightened scrutiny of applicants’ social media history, political expression, and ideological leanings, even a well-qualified candidate can face delays or denials based on misinterpreted online content.
Navigating these evolving standards alone can be overwhelming. That’s why having a qualified immigration expert by your side isn’t just helpful, it can significantly improve your chances of success.
At The Visa Code, we specialize in U.S. visa and consular matters. Our team understands how these policies are applied in practice and can help you:
Prepare and present your case clearly
Avoid common pitfalls in digital vetting
Respond effectively to 221(g)s or evaluate reapplication post a refusal
Contact Us Today
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