Original Date Announced

Reporter Ken Klippenstein published a leaked DOS directive on “Enhanced Screening and Social Media Vetting for Visa Applicants.” The directive instructs consular officers to conduct a “social media review” of new or returning F, M, and J student visa applicants to look for evidence of inadmissibility under the terrorism-related grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Such evidence includes “advocating for, sympathizing with, or persuading others to endorse or espouse terrorist activities or support” a terrorist organization.

Though the directive does not explicitly define what counts as advocacy, it mentions “conduct that bears a hostile attitude toward U.S. citizens or U.S. culture (including government, institutions, or founding principles).” Specific reference is made to students participating “in pro-Hamas events.”

The directive instructs consular officers to consider and deny such cases under INA sections 214(b), 212(a), and 221(g). If information becomes available after visa issuance that an individual may no longer be eligible for a visa, officers are directed to follow procedures to revoke it or request prudential revocation.

Trump 2.0 [ID #1657]

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.05.27 Reported: Trump team pauses new student visa interviews as it weighs expanding social media vetting - Politico

Politico reports that Secretary of State Rubio ordered U.S. embassies and consular sections to pause scheduling new interviews for F, M, and J visa applicants in preparation for expanded social-media screening.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.06.18 DOS - Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants

DOS released a media note stating that consular offices will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications “soon.” As part of the review process, DOS 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.” Applicants will be instructed to set their social media accounts to “public” for the review.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.06.18 DOS 25 STATE 59756 - Expanding Screening and Vetting for FMJ Applicants

DOS issued a cable directive to consular officers regarding the renewed screening process. The cable instructs consular officers to review F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.” It also directs embassies to flag any applicants who “advocate for, aid or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to U.S. national security; or who perpetrate unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence.”

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.08.19 USCIS PA-2025-16 - Clarifying Discretionary Factors in Certain Immigration Benefit Requests

USCIS announced that it is issuing updated policy guidance regarding the factors that officers may consider in certain benefit requests cases involving discretionary analysis. In particular, the update provides that any connections to "anti-American" or "antisemitic" activities are assigned significant negative weight. It also states that a relevant factor is whether the noncitizen's application for admission or parole was made in accordance with all laws, regulations, and policies in effect at the time. It further explains that an exercise of discretion in employment-based cases is limited to cases where the noncitizen is seeking a national interest waiver; clarifies how discretion is applied to certain EB-5 cases involving national-interest concerns or misconduct; and confirms that USCIS applies discretion when adjudicating requests for extension of stay, change of status, reinstatement of F or M nonimmigrant status, and in certain employment authorization requests.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.08.19 USCIS - Policy Manual Chapter 8, Discretionary Analysis

USCIS updated its Policy Manual in light of the announcement of the policy alert described above. In particular, the updated Policy Manual adds as an additional factor to the list of "factors that may be considered" in adjudicating requests for immigration benefits: "[w]hether the alien has endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused anti-American views or the views of a terrorist organization or group (including in social media content by, or involving an alien). This includes organizations who support or promote anti-American ideologies or activities, antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, antisemitic ideologies, or has engaged in physical harassment of any person in furtherance of the organization or group."

USCIS states that anti-American organizations, views, activities, and ideologies will be determined based on INA § 313(a), and that circumstances indicating anti-American views or views of a terrorist organization are considered "overwhelmingly negative factors" in cases involving discretion. The previous version of the Policy Manual did not include a bullet such as this in the list. Similar language was added to the Policy Manual's section on adjustment of status and section on adjudicating employment authorization. Neither the previous version of the section on adjustment of status nor the previous version of the section on employment authorization referenced the consideration of anti-American views or views of a terrorist organization.

The Policy Manual's section on nonimmigrant visas was also updated to clarify that for nonimmigrant visas, including F and M visas, the decision to grant or deny an extension of stay or change of status request involves an exercise of discretion by USCIS. The previous version of this section lacked this language.