US Visa: Applicants who do not use social media may be rejected

New York [US], May 31: That is the content of a telegram sent by Secretary of State Rubio to US embassies around the world, and is considered the latest move by President Donald Trump's administration against Harvard University , according to Reuters on May 31.
Mr. Rubio said the US visa screening process mentioned in the cable would serve as a pilot for future visa issuance.
Specifically, US embassies are required to apply new screening procedures for all foreigners wishing to visit Harvard University, including "prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, contractors, guest speakers, and tourists."
The Trump administration had previously banned Harvard University from accepting international students, but a court blocked the decision.
The cable also directs consular officers to closely examine applicants' social media accounts. Applicants for US visas are required to make their social media accounts public so that interviewing officers can see their content.
The absence of posts on an account, or the applicant's lack of social media presence, can be used as grounds for denying a US visa. The US State Department has not commented on the information mentioned by Reuters.
International students currently account for 5.9% of the total student population in the US higher education system of nearly 19 million. In the 2023-2024 academic year, more than 1.1 million foreign students will come to the US, with India the largest and China the second largest.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper