“Applicants who demonstrate a history of political activism” should be flagged, with officers considering if such behavior may continue in the U.S.
The U.S. State Department has ordered diplomats to screen the online activity of all student visa applicants, according to a cable obtained by POLITICO on Wednesday.
Consular officers must examine social media and databases like LexisNexis for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”
The directive also includes reviewing support for terrorism, antisemitic violence, and groups such as Hamas. “Applicants who demonstrate a history of political activism” should be flagged, with officers considering if such behavior may continue in the U.S.
This screening applies to both new and returning students. Officers must take “detailed case notes” and save screenshots for record-keeping.
While none of these factors lead to automatic visa denial, findings will trigger further reviews to assess if the applicant would “engage only in activities consistent with his nonimmigrant visa status.”
The move reflects the Trump administration’s push to tighten legal immigration pathways.