Embassies were also directed to flag any “advocacy for, aid or support for foreign terrorists and other threats to US national security” and “support for unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.”
The State Department has directed US diplomats to screen the social media accounts of all foreign nationals applying for educational visas. This comes as the US has resumed scheduling student visa appointments.
Per Politico, consular offices were directed in a State Department cable issued on Wednesday to review the online presence of applicants for "any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States."
Embassies were also directed to flag any "advocacy for, aid or support for foreign terrorists and other threats to US national security" and "support for unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence." A specific example listed in the cable was support for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
Applicants who "demonstrate a history of political activism" are to be flagged, and consular offices must "consider the likelihood they would continue such activity in the United States." Consular officers must take "detailed case notes" regarding their review of online presences and "take screenshots to preserve the record against possible later alteration or loss of information."
The new screening will apply both to new student visa applicants as well as returning ones. "Online presence" includes social media activity, as well as information from online databases such as LexisNexis.
The outlet reported that none of the factors specified in the cable would "immediately amount to ineligibility to receive a visa under US law," however, such content being found would trigger an additional review so that officers can determine whether an applicant would abide by US laws and "engage only in activities consistent with his nonimmigrant visa status."
In resuming scheduling visa interviews, the cable reportedly told embassies to prioritize physicians seeking J-1 visas and students looking to "study at a US university where international students constitute 15 percent or less of the total student population."
In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a pause on interviews with foreign citizens applying for student and exchange visas in preparation for expanded social media vetting requirements.
The department said at the time that "we use all available information in our visa screening and vetting," and noted that visa applicants have been asked to provide social media account information on forms for visas since 2019.
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