US student visa ban: The United States has lifted restrictions on student visas for foreign applicants but has introduced a new policy for visa approval.
Under this new policy students will now be required to grant access to their social media accounts as part of the application process.
According to U.S. media reports, a newly issued notice states that the U.S. State Department has lifted student visa ban. However, all new applicants must now make their social media accounts public and accessible for government review to get visa approval.
The State Department has clarified that consular officers will examine all posts and messages that may be considered anti-American, or critical of the U.S. government, its institutions, culture, or founding principles.
The applicants who shared anti government posts previously will not be eligible to get visa approval.
Officials added that failure to provide access to these accounts may lead to the rejection of the visa review request.
This new rule follows a move last month by the Trump administration, which had temporarily paused the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students. At the time, U.S. authorities were also preparing to increase screening measures for social media activities of foreign students.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio may also push for the revocation of student visas for Chinese students in particular, citing national security concerns.
This policy shift has sparked debate among education advocates and privacy rights groups, raising concerns about surveillance, freedom of expression, and the potential deterrent effect on international students seeking higher education in the United States.
