US State Department: “Resume Student Visas but vet students with ‘hostile attitudes’”

The United States Department of State has said that it will resume student visa applications but has asked all applicants to make their social media accounts public. Instructions to officials include identifying “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States”. These guidelines apply to all F, M and J visa applicants and applicants to these categories will be impacted. 

In addition, any applicant who keeps their social media private will be adjudged to have been trying to hide their social media activity- a likely cause for rejection of visa applications in the future. 

“It is an expectation from American citizens that their government will make every effort to make our country safer, and that is exactly what the Trump Administration is doing every single day,” a senior State Department official added.

Visa officers have been instructed to look for applicants “who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence“. 

Instructions sent to Diplomatic posts worldwide

A cable obtained by CNN on Wednesday reveals that new instructions were dispatched to U.S. diplomatic posts globally. The guidance mandates that the vetting process for student and exchange visa applicants will now examine their “entire online presence.” As part of this updated procedure, applicants must make their social media profiles public. The cable also indicates that “limited access to, or visibility of, online presence could be construed as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.” Embassies and consulates worldwide have been given a deadline of 5 days to implement the new guidelines. 

How easy will the new guidelines be to implement? 

Implementing the new U.S. guidelines for screening F, M, and J visa applicants’ social media will be challenging. The vague criteria for “hostility” lack clear definitions, risking inconsistent interpretations by consular officers. Reviewing entire online presences, including taking screenshots, will strain resources, increase workloads, and likely cause delays. The requirement to set profiles to public may also raise privacy concerns, complicating compliance.

How will this impact new applicants?

The new U.S. guidelines will significantly impact applicants worldwide. The vague criteria may lead to inconsistent rejections, causing confusion and delays. Applicants must set profiles to public, raising privacy concerns and potentially exposing them to scrutiny over old or misinterpreted posts. The resource-intensive process could overwhelm consulates, slowing visa approvals and disrupting academic plans, especially for students targeting U.S. universities.

What is the future going to be like for the US as a destination for international students?

Interest in studying in the U.S. has been declining, particularly among international students, as evidenced by multiple sources:

SEVIS Data Decline:

Between March 2024 and March 2025, international student enrolment in the U.S. dropped by 11.33%, with a significant 28% reduction in Indian students, a key demographic. This decline, noted in SEVIS data, reflects a $4 billion revenue loss for U.S. higher education. 

Studyportals Data:

Student interest in U.S. programs fell to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 50% drop in weekly pageviews for U.S. degrees between January and April 2025. Students are increasingly exploring alternatives in the UK, Australia, and other countries.

Keystone Education Group Survey:

A 2024 survey showed a 42% drop in international student interest in U.S. Master’s and PhD programs post-Trump’s re-election, citing stricter immigration policies and safety concerns. 

Common App Data:

International student applications to U.S. colleges declined by 1% in 2025, marking the first time since 2019 that domestic applicant growth outpaced international growth.

Are the days of the USA as #1 destination for international students numbered? 

With the UK, France, Ireland and Germany seeing a surge in the number of student visa applications, it does seem that the USA is seeing its grip on the first spot in international education loosen. The attacks on Columbia and Harvard, along with the rhetoric directed at international students who participated in anti-war protests has resulted in thousands of students either putting the decision to study in the US on hold or abandoning plans to study in the US altogether. Although new developments in Iran have put the attacks on higher education in the shadows, the USA is in very real danger of losing the top spot in international enrolments.