The State Department said on June 18 that the application and interview process for student visas F, M, and J had resumed. This time, the requirements for acceptance include a thorough review of the applicant’s social media accounts, which must be publicly accessible.
This notice, which was signed by State Secretary Marco Rubio three weeks after it became unconstitutional, states that the interview program for student visas has been put on hold in order to prepare for social media revision measures.According to the regulations, officials of the United States embassies must ensure that the networks do not contain evidence of hostility toward the United States, support for designated terrorists, or other threats to the European Union, as well as antisemitic content that violates the law or illegal work that is not in line with the study.
Esta medida responde a la preocupaci n reciente del gobierno por la seguridad nacional, en relaci n con la inmigraci n y lasprotestas de la guerra de Israel y Gaza, las cuales han resultado en la revocaci n de varias visas a estudiantes universitarios, seg n uncomentario a la prensa de Marco Rubio. The State Department did not reply to requests for comments.
A foreign student who identifies as a freshman and requests anonymity wrote in an English-language message that some of their friends have not been able to obtain visas because their interview dates were canceled to give them more time to verify their social media accounts, and others have started looking for universities in England only to feel secure.
After seeing the notice for the first time, a senior at UT with an F-1 student visa requested anonymity via electronic correspondence in English, believing it to be a violation of privacy. They stated that they are concerned about posting anything without knowing it could be offensive, but they do not use their social media platforms for political activities.
According to the senior, it is not justified to make a decision as significant as granting a student a visa based on their posts on social media.
Per the Embassy and Consulates of the United States in Mexico, providing all user names used on social media platforms has been a requirement for anyone applying for U.S. visas since 2019. Failure to comply with this request may result in the request being rejected. The restriction of any component of social media presence can be seen as an attempt to hide online activities.
According to Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the Department of State, at a prensael 29 May conference, “Rechazar a los que arriesgan la seguridad de los Estados y la seguridad p blica es clave para proteger los ciudadanos statenidenses en casa.”
Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an immigration specialist in Austin, stated in English that the student visa application process has been quite easy in the past because it is not an immigrant visa. Sin embargo, dijo que se convertir arduo y largo , y aunque acepten a alguien a una universidad o un programa, tal vez no les dan la visa a tiempo para empezar el programa a tiempo. stated that the new rules are not very clear and that sometimes candidates do not enter because they have been rejected.
A university spokesperson stated in English that Texas Global has a long history of helping international students.
The international student who is classified as senior stated that they do not want anyone to leave their country without intending to benefit it, yet they do not feel welcome under the new procedure.
If they believe this is the right place for it, they shouldn’t let the new procedures deprive them, the student wrote.
