Want a US visa? Make your socmed ‘public’

The US Embassy in Manila. —File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Traveling to the United States to study or take part in exchange visitor programs? Make your social media accounts “public” first.

The US Embassy in Manila on Tuesday asked all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to “public,” so that the government can establish their identity and admissibility and make sure they do not pose a threat to America’s national security.

“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States,” the embassy said in an announcement.

According to the US Bureau of Consular Affairs, visa category F is for those who wish to enter the United States to attend university or college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservator, or another academic institution, including a language training program.

Expanded

An M visa is for individuals attending vocational or other other recognized nonacademic institutions other than a language training program.

“Exchange visitor (J) visas are nonimmigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States,” it said.

The embassy noted that since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms.

The policy is not unique to the Philippines as US embassies in other countries have also relayed the announcement on the expanded screening and vetting for visa applicants that came from the US State Department’s Office of the Spokesperson.

Nat’l security concern

In a statement on June 18, the state department emphasized that “a US visa is a privilege, not a right,” and that every visa assessment is a “national security decision.”

“The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission,” it noted.

Tighter screening

It explained that they use all available information in screening visa applications and verifying the identity of applicants inadmissible to their country, “including those who pose a threat to US national security.”

“Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications,” it added.

The agency said its overseas posts will soon resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications.

This came after the Trump administration on May 27 ordered missions abroad to stop scheduling new appointments while the state department was working on expanding social media vetting. /cb