"Refusal of Issuance if Terrorism Support Found on SNS"... US Tightens Student Visa Screening

Expansion of Definition of Terrorist Activities
Review of SNS Records

The U.S. Department of State will take measures to deny visas to student visa applicants who support terrorism by checking social networking services (SNS) and other platforms.

On April 29, 2024, student protesters gathered on the campus of Columbia University in New York, USA. Photo by AFP Yonhap News.

The British daily The Guardian reported on the 28th (local time) that the U.S. Department of State sent a diplomatic cable with this content to each consulate on the 25th.

The Department of State specified new criteria for visa denial in the cable. It states that if there is evidence proving that the applicant advocates terrorist activities or publicly supports or endorses terrorist activities or organizations, it can be grounds for visa refusal. This guideline applies to F, M, and J student visa applicants.

The requirement for consulate staff to review visa applicants' SNS is also included as mandatory. Accordingly, consulate staff will check the visa applicants' SNS to investigate evidence of activities that pose a threat to national security. If suspicious elements are found during the investigation, the visa review department will create a permanent digital record of the SNS content and use it as evidence for entry denial.

The cable specifies that the screening process will be expanded to students residing in the U.S. as of October 7, 2023, who will need to renew their visas in the future. October 7, 2023, is the day when the Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.