Students seeking a US student visa will need to have their social media accounts public (not locked). The US State Department will soon resume scheduling appointments for international students seeking to study in the US. However, it will now conduct a review of applicants’ social media accounts to check if the user advocates any anti-US principles.
Many students in Nepal also apply for a student visa in the US. They seek opportunities to study in different states. However, if you are one of them, you will need to keep your social public and not locked.
According to reports, the US State Department has instructed officials to search for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States”.
So, this might involve users posting any hateful or anti-US content or making comments on their Facebook, Instagram, and other social network accounts. The decision to inspect visa applicants’ social media accounts has been debated. However, for now, the ruling is likely to go ahead as the sitting president, Donald Trump, heavily stresses the America First policy.
The ruling will impact “F” visa applicants. Also, “M” and “J” visa applicants will be affected by this guideline. Earlier, the Trump administration halted the scheduling of student visas to make preparations for social media review. Students who are found to be hostile to US principles could see their visa application declined.
By the way, here’s the method to lock your Facebook profile
Keep your social media account unlocked for a US visa
As per the guidelines, you are better to keep your social media account (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) unlocked to have a chance of your visa approval. Otherwise, the department might see locked accounts as an attempt to hide something anti-US.
“It is an expectation from American citizens that their government will make every effort to make our country safer, and that is exactly what the Trump Administration is doing every single day,” a senior State Department official said.
Officers are also told to carefully inspect individuals through their social media accounts “who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence”.
Trump has been at conflict with some elite US universities over enrolling international students. The move to review social media accounts of applicants is a move to limit or stop foreign students from enrolling at top US educational institutions who may espouse anti-US sentiments.