Yale University’s Office of International Students and Scholars has advised student visa applicants to make their social media accounts publicly visible and to carefully assess their online presence in light of new policies from the U.S. government regarding social media vetting.
In a recent communication to current and prospective international students, Yale’s office highlighted the importance of adhering to these guidelines, especially following the State Department’s recent decision to lift a pause on scheduling new student visa interviews. As part of the new directive, applicants must adjust the privacy settings of all social media profiles to “public” to facilitate the vetting process.
Ozan Say, director of the office, encouraged students to reflect on their digital footprint, mentioning that those who have significant concerns about their online presence should consult with an immigration attorney. This guidance comes as scrutiny of international students increases, often justified by national security measures. The recent policy shift aligns with previous announcements from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services aimed at monitoring social media activity for signs of anti-American sentiments, specifically targeting antisemitism.
An internal State Department communication, confirmed by several media outlets, has tasked consular officials with scrutinizing applicants’ social media for signs of hostility towards U.S. culture or support for terrorism, raising concerns among students about how their posts might be interpreted. One incoming student from Chile expressed uncertainty about how such evaluations would be carried out, highlighting the lack of clear guidelines from the embassy on what constitutes a threat that could lead to visa denial.
Additionally, the latest State Department directives prioritize visa applications for students enrolling at institutions where fewer than 15% of the student body is comprised of international students. At Yale, international students represented approximately 24.3% of the population in the 2024-25 academic year.
Though these adjustments reflect heightened security measures, the hope remains that increased transparency and support from institutions like Yale can help international students navigate this complex landscape. Engaging with their digital presence proactively may enable many students to better prepare for their upcoming visa interviews.