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Foreign students hoping to study in the United States will now face much stricter screening, including having their social media accounts reviewed, under a new U.S. State Department policy announced this week.
The policy affects all new applicants for F, M, and J visas, those issued to students, visiting scholars, and academic researchers. It also reopens the visa application process that had been paused since mid-May. While the U.S. says the goal is to screen for potential “hostility” toward American citizens, culture, or institutions, the vague language and sweeping powers granted to consular officials have sparked alarm among foreign student communities and education advocates worldwide.
For students from Cyprus, or any international student looking to pursue studies in the U.S., this could mean delays, cancellations, or even rejections based on unclear or inconsistently applied criteria. Applicants will now be asked to grant full access to their social media accounts during the visa screening process, removing privacy settings and passwords if necessary. How this information will be judged or what might constitute a “red flag” remains undefined.
The move is part of a broader policy shift under the Trump administration aimed at reshaping the ideological makeup of U.S. universities, which some government officials have described as overly liberal. Critics argue the policy is designed to silence dissent, restrict free speech, and force foreign students to self-censor, even before setting foot in the country.
International students, who numbered around 1.3 million in the U.S. last year, play a vital role in both academic and research fields. On many campuses, they fill essential positions in science labs, medical research, and tech development. Visiting professors from abroad, now also subject to the new vetting procedures, are key contributors to cutting-edge innovation.
In recent months, the crackdown has been especially severe for Chinese students. Visa interviews were canceled in late May following a directive by Secretary Marco Rubio, who demanded that social media posts of all Chinese applicants be reviewed. The move was tied to broader U.S.-China tensions, especially in fields deemed “critical” by the government.
Cypriot students aren’t being singled out, but the policy applies universally, creating uncertainty for anyone applying to a U.S. university, especially those in sensitive areas of study like technology or public policy.
For now, the message from Washington is clear: come to study, but mind your tweets.
