A new directive from the United States State Department mandates enhanced screening protocols for student visa applicants, particularly focusing on social media activities. The directive, issued on March 25, requires consular officers to investigate the online presence of applicants to identify any indications of support for terrorism or hostile attitudes towards the U.S. This significant policy change follows a series of visa revocations linked to pro-Palestinian activism, introducing a wide-ranging definition of activities that could lead to visa denials based on perceived security threats.
The new directive expands screening processes for student visa applicants to include social media investigations aimed at identifying those deemed supportive of terrorism.
The updated visa denial standards allow consular officers to reject applicants based on broad interpretations of support for terrorist activities, affecting a wide demographic.
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