New York: The United States State Department has directed all overseas students applying for student visas to keep their social media profiles publicly accessible.
The guidelines comes as the authorities resumed visa processing after temporary suspension.
The strict screening of students is part of the Trump administrations increased scrutiny of students’ online activity and political interests.
The new rules allow consular officers to assess whether the applicants harbour hostility towards the US, its institutions and founding principles.
Alongside, officials will look for those suspected of supporting foreign terrorist outfits, antisemitic behaviour, and critical of US foreign policy.
Refusing to supply access to social media accounts will be interpreted as an attempt to evade screening and could result in visa denial.
Those applying for F-class visa, primarily used by students, have to comply with the new guidelines.
Visa processing was withheld in May for the authorities to finalise vetting measures.
Thousands of international students are left to scramble for travel and accommodation arrangements as visa appointments are resumed just weeks before the academic year to start.
The Department of Homeland Security announced in April that social media accounts of student visa applicants would be screened for anti-Semitic content.
Back then, the Trump administration faced criticism for revoking study permissions for thousands of international students and in some case for minor traffic offenses.
Following backlash, authorities withdrew from the move.
The new measures including seeking access to social media accounts of students are part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on left-wing politics in universities.
Trump imposed funding freezes on universities after accusing them of failing to address antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests.