U.S. Student Visa Applicants Now Required to Publicly Share Social Media Accounts: What International Students Need to Know

In June 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a new policy effectively mandating all non-immigrant visa applicants, including international students, to disclose their social media accounts with full public access. While applicants have previously been asked to list their social media handles from the past five years, the recent change now requires those accounts to be publicly visible to immigration officers as part of the visa review process.

This shift comes after a recent suspension and gradual resumption of F-1 visa interviews, a disruption that appears to be closely tied to the implementation of this more stringent vetting system. Unlike in the past—when private or inactive accounts often did not pose a problem—today, such activity (or lack thereof) may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal information. Even deleted posts or sanitized profiles may raise red flags.

What’s especially important for international applicants to understand is that consular officers are not just reviewing a few recent posts. They examine the broader picture of an applicant’s online identity: content of posts, comments made, accounts followed, "likes" given, the email addresses and names linked to the accounts—and whether they match the information provided in the visa application. In addition, U.S. authorities often work with third-party data providers such as LexisNexis to conduct wide-ranging reviews of applicants’ online reputations, public statements, and media mentions.

Unsurprisingly, the new requirement has sparked concern among civil rights groups and legal experts. Critics argue that compelling applicants to open up their private digital spaces violates freedom of expression and sets a troubling precedent for privacy rights. There are also fears that jokes, cultural expressions, or religious posts may be misinterpreted by officers unfamiliar with the applicant’s background—leading to unjust denials.

Yet despite these concerns, U.S. officials maintain that the new measure falls within the legitimate scope of national security and immigration control. From a legal standpoint, entering the U.S. remains a privilege, not a right, and compliance with these expanded vetting measures is now an implicit requirement for anyone seeking entry—even for educational purposes.

For students planning to study in the U.S., social media is no longer a private or informal space—it’s now part of your official visa documentation. Every profile should be reviewed and, if necessary, cleaned up—not by deleting history, but by ensuring consistency, authenticity, and appropriateness. All accounts listed on the DS-160 should be set to public visibility, and students should be prepared for every post, comment, and connection to be subject to scrutiny.

The U.S. government is ultimately looking for transparency and sincerity. Without these, even a flawless academic plan and strong financial background may not be enough to secure a student visa. Expression and privacy are core democratic values—but so is the sovereign right of a country to determine its entry policies. Students, therefore, must approach this process with both awareness and respect.

Navigating the delicate balance between freedom of expression and compliance with immigration policy is now part of the international student experience. Studying abroad in the U.S. is no longer just about academics—it’s also about understanding and adapting to a different legal and cultural framework. Now is the time to take a thoughtful look at your online presence and prepare for the journey ahead.