Audio By Carbonatix
The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review.
The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles.
In a notice made public Wednesday, the department said it had rescinded its May suspension of student visa processing but said new applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts to “public” and allow them to be reviewed may be rejected. It said a refusal to do so could be a sign they are trying to evade the requirement or hide their online activity.
The Trump administration last month temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while preparing to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said.
Students around the world have been waiting anxiously for U.S. consulates to reopen appointments for visa interviews, as the window left to book their travel and make housing arrangements narrows ahead of the start of the school year.
On Wednesday afternoon, a 27-year-old Ph.D. student in Toronto was able to secure an appointment for a visa interview next week. The student, a Chinese national, hopes to travel to the U.S. for a research internship that would start in late July.
“I’m really relieved,” said the student, who spoke on condition of being identified only by his surname, Chen, because he was concerned about being targeted. “I’ve been refreshing the website couple of times every day.”
Students from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines have posted on social media sites that they have been monitoring visa booking websites and closely watching press briefings of the State Department to get any indication of when appointment scheduling might resume.
Latest Stories
-
Infantino invited to African summit as he faces challenge to FIFA leadership
27 minutes -
NPA boss flags ‘recalcitrant’ transport operators raising fares arbitrarily
35 minutes -
GPRTU fare hike put on ice after talks with government – NPA boss reveals
57 minutes -
I’m greatly worried – NPA boss on threat of higher transport fares
1 hour -
We are largely import-dependent – NPA boss on Ghana’s fuel vulnerability
2 hours -
Ghana’s fuel market is built for turbulence – NPA’s Edudzi Tamakloe explains why
2 hours -
Postponement not an option as Kenya races to be ready for Afcon 2027
2 hours -
ICE agent shoots and wounds man in Texas as locals demand answers
2 hours -
Ed Sheeran admits ‘mistakes’ at first show since Macklemore controversy
3 hours -
We are ready for the turbulence – NPA boss on Ghana’s fuel crisis
3 hours -
Lady I wanted serious relationship with said she’s not ready – Rema
4 hours -
I’ll never discuss my finances with man, even if he’s my husband – Nancy Isime
4 hours -
Wizkid, Wande Coal advised me on how to leave school for music – Davido
4 hours -
Senegal job an ‘absolute dream’ for new boss Vieira
4 hours -
Harry and Meghan’s media treatment echoes what happened to Diana, Earl Spencer tells BBC
4 hours