The US State Department announced on the 18th local time that it will resume processing visas for foreign students and visiting scholars, and applicants will be able to schedule interviews.
According to the new guidance, staff will conduct a "comprehensive and thorough review" of student visa and visiting scholar visa applicants. To expedite the review process, applicants will be required to set all their social media accounts as' public '.
The new regulations state that new applicants who refuse to make their social media accounts public and refuse to undergo review are highly likely to be denied visas because they may attempt to evade requirements or hide their online activities on social media.
On May 27th of this year, the US State Department announced the suspension of visa processing for foreign students and visiting scholars, and applicants are not allowed to schedule interviews.
At present, the US embassies and consulates in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou within China have not yet opened visa interview appointments, and it is expected to gradually resume. Applicants are advised to closely monitor relevant information.
Overseas Chinese immigration experts in the United States have stated that in the face of constantly changing US study visa policies, international students need to be more cautious in managing their social media activities to ensure the smooth progress of their visa applications.
