US Student Visa Interviews Resume – Social Media Check Now Mandatory

The US government has resumed the student visa interview process, which had been temporarily paused since the end of May. This is important news for international students, especially those from India who are planning to study in the United States. However, the visa process now includes a new rule: applicants must go through a mandatory social media background check.

According to new guidelines from the US State Department, visa officers will thoroughly check the social media profiles of applicants as part of the security process. Students are advised to set their profiles to 'public' mode to allow verification. A senior official said, "Social media vetting helps ensure that every person entering the US is carefully reviewed in the interest of national security."

This process, known as “social media vetting,” means that visa officers will review an applicant’s online activity to judge if they are eligible and safe to enter the US. For example, if someone has posted politically sensitive content, such as a foreign flag (like the Palestine flag), their application may receive closer scrutiny. Only after confirming that there’s no threat to US security will the student be granted a visa. The goal is to maintain national safety while giving deserving students the chance to study in the US.