U.S. Resumes Foreign Student Visa Processing But Demands Social Media Access

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States government on Wednesday, June 18, announced that it will resume the issuance of foreign student visas at U.S. embassies abroad. However, all applicants are now required to provide access to their social media accounts as part of a stricter screening process.

This policy comes into effect after Trump's administration suspended visa interviews last May for visa applicants in the categories of 'F' (academic students), 'M' (vocational students), and 'J' (educational and cultural exchange).

"Under new guidance, consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants," read a press release from the U.S. Department of State.

The Washington Post reported that prospective students will be screened to identify "hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles," in a diplomatic cable sent to U.S. embassies and consular services worldwide.

The cable also acknowledged that the new policy will add to the workload of embassy and consular staff, and therefore may require a reduction in the number of visa interviews, according to the report.

The Trump administration previously tightened the standards for accepting international students, citing allegations of anti-Semitic actions in student protests against Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip.

The Trump administration specifically dished out harsher sanctions against Harvard University, which was deemed to have failed to stop student protests. The government pressured the campus by freezing subsidies and suspending its eligibility to accept foreign students.

Editor’s Choice: Foreign Affairs Ministry Assists 87 Indonesian Students at Harvard Amid U.S. Visa Crackdown

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