Earlier this week, Secretary of State Rubio instructed U.S. consulates and embassies to pause new visa appointments for foreign students, pending upcoming changes to the social media screening and vetting requirements for applicants. Today, Rubio acted on this by announcing that Harvard students’ visa applications should be thoroughly reviewed, particularly for any antisemitic content. Student visa applicants have been required to undergo social media screening in the past, yet the new screening process will be much more extensive, based on Secretary Rubio’s press statement.
Rubio’s instruction to increase the vetting process for students entering the country to study at Harvard is unsurprising, given the recent tensions between the university and the administration (you can find more information on our website). Effective immediately, U.S. consulates and embassies processing Harvard student visa applications are informed to:
– Screen for any antisemitic and anti-American content on social media accounts.
– Regard with suspicion a student’s lack of social media accounts, or possible deletion of their accounts.
– Question students’ private accounts, and request that they be made public during review of their case.
Rubio communicated that the expanded screening and vetting requirements for Harvard are the beginning of the changes to come, not only for Harvard University but for colleges and universities nationwide. We will keep you updated.