Washington: The US State Department on Wednesday said it is resuming the suspended process of student visa applications for foreign nationals.
However, the department has introduced a new requirement under which all applicants must grant access to their social media accounts for government scrutiny.
In a notice issued the same day, the department said consular officers will review posts and messages that may be viewed as hostile toward the United States, its government, culture, institutions, or core principles.
The department further said that applicants who refuse to make their social media accounts publicly accessible for inspection may face rejection.
The move marks a significant policy shift aimed at tightening vetting measures for international students.
