If you’re planning to study or do an exchange program in the U.S., get ready to share more than just transcripts. The U.S. State Department just dropped new guidance that’s turning up the heat on visa applicants, specifically anyone going for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa.
Here’s the deal: the visa process has always been about national security, but now it’s also about social media. Starting soon, student and exchange visa applicants must make all their social media profiles public so U.S. consular officers can review everything from photos to posts to who you follow.
That’s right. If your Instagram is private, your Twitter is locked, or your TikTok is set to friends only, you’ll need to open it up if you want a shot at that visa.
This new move is part of what the State Department calls “comprehensive and thorough vetting.” They say every visa decision is a national security decision, and that means looking at the digital footprint of applicants to catch anything that could be a red flag.
Appointments for F, M, and J visas will resume soon at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, so applicants are being told to check the website for their local embassy to book time. But before you do that, go through your socials. What’s public could make or break your shot at coming to the U.S.
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