Student and Exchange Worker Visa Interviews Resume
Applicants will be required to consent to social media reviews
The U.S. Department of State announced June 18 that it is restarting the suspended visa application process for foreign students and exchange visitors, 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 “bear hostile attitudes toward our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles” or “who perpetrate unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.”
Applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts to “public” and allow them to be reviewed may be rejected.
Last month, the Trump administration temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for:
- F visas (foreign students).
- J visas (exchange visitors, including interns, trainees, and seasonal workers).
- M visas (vocational program participants).
This action was taken to allow U.S. embassies and consulates to implement updated social media and political screening protocols.
“The State Department’s decision to resume F, M, and J visa interviews is a welcome development for employers and international talent alike,” said Emily M. Dickens, SHRM chief of staff, head of government affairs, and corporate secretary. “When the pause was announced, SHRM took swift action — engaging Congress, activating our members, and advocating for a timely resolution.”
As interviews resume, applicants should prepare for enhanced screening, including social media reviews, which may cause delays, Dickens said.
Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy in Washington, D.C., said it remains unclear how broadly or narrowly the rules will be interpreted. A narrower interpretation of the new guidelines may be less problematic, and a broader one could result in an increase in visa denials.
The new social media vetting guidelines affect not only new applicants but also those whose cases are currently in progress, according to the State Department.
For questions or assistance, please contact the SHRM J-1 Visa Team at EVP@shrm.org
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