US Resumes Student Visa Processing, Adds Social Media Vetting Requirement

The US government has resumed its student visa processing after a temporary suspension. However, the new policy comes with a twist, all applicants must now allow US authorities access to their social media profiles as part of a stricter vetting process.

The US Department of State announced that visa interviews for international students applying under F, M, and J nonimmigrant categories  covering academic and exchange programs will resume shortly at overseas consular posts.

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security,” the department stated.

Under the new rules, applicants will be required to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media accounts to public for inspection. The US says this move is aimed at expanding background checks and reinforcing national security.

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the statement emphasized. “The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission do not intend to harm Americans or U.S. interests.”

The visa freeze, which began in May 2025, disrupted the plans of thousands of foreign students globally, including the estimated 20,000 Nigerian students currently studying in the U.S., making Nigeria Africa’s top source of international students in the country and 17th worldwide.

Applicants are now being advised to regularly check U.S. embassy or consulate websites for updated appointment slots, as scheduling gradually resumes.

While the added layer of social media scrutiny has sparked mixed reactions, many see the reopening of the visa window as a positive development, especially for Nigerian families and students with ongoing or upcoming academic plans.

The US government reiterated that securing a visa remains a privilege, not a right, and applicants must “credibly establish” their eligibility and intent to comply with US immigration laws.