The United States has resumed processing student visa applications under the F, M, and J nonimmigrant categories with a new requirement: applicants must make their social media accounts public for government screening.

The US Department of State announced that it will conduct “comprehensive and thorough vetting,” including a review of each applicant’s online presence. All student and exchange visitor visa applicants will now be instructed to set their social media profiles to public visibility as part of the visa process.

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the State Department emphasized. The goal is to ensure that no applicant intending harm or posing a threat to US national interests is granted entry. The department reiterated that obtaining a US visa is a “privilege, not a right.”

The decision follows an earlier pause in student visa interviews, ordered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to allow for increased scrutiny of applicants’ digital activity. That pause is now lifted, with applicants encouraged to complete their applications and monitor scheduling updates.

The Biden administration continues a Trump-era policy of closely examining foreign students’ backgrounds, particularly in light of recent political tensions on US college campuses related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Authorities have criticized universities for failing to adequately protect Jewish students and for allowing foreign students to engage in political protests.

The new visa policy reflects growing concerns about national security and foreign influence within academic institutions.

The Department of State said it remains committed to protecting Americans while maintaining legitimate pathways for international students to study in the United States.