The U.S. State Department has announced that all foreign nationals applying for student and exchange visitor visas must make their social media accounts public as part of new vetting procedures.

The directive, published on the department’s official website, applies to applicants under the F, M, and J non-immigrant visa categories.

According to the Trump administration, these include international students, vocational trainees, and cultural or academic exchange participants.

Under the new rule, consular officials will conduct a review of applicants' digital presence, including a full assessment of publicly visible social media content.

The department said that visa issuance is a national security matter, not a right.

F visas are typically issued to academic students, M visas to vocational or technical students, and J visas to individuals participating in educational and cultural exchange programmes.

In March, according to various U.S. media publications, over 300 student visa holders had their visas revoked through AI-driven social media screening after liking or sharing posts deemed supportive of Hamas or expressing anti-American views.

Many of the affected students were instructed to self-deport, often without being formally detained or given an opportunity to appeal.