US Orders Social Media Vetting for Harvard Visa Applicants, Raising Global Concerns
2 Min Read
The United States has begun implementing enhanced social media screening for all international applicants bound for Harvard University, sparking fears of wider implications for global mobility. The new directive, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 29 May, instructs US consular officers worldwide to conduct full online background checks for any visa applicant associated with the university.
This move marks the first phase of a broader vetting policy and is being positioned as a pilot project. Students, staff, researchers, and faculty linked to Harvard will now have their public and private social media activity scrutinised for signs of antisemitism and possible national security risks.
Experts are raising alarm over the vague definitions within the policy. Brian Simmons of Fragomen warned that “support for Palestinian liberation” or other political expressions could be misinterpreted as extremist, depending on the officer’s discretion.
Of particular concern is the instruction that visa officers may question an applicant’s credibility if their social media accounts are private or inactive. This has left universities unsure how to advise students under the changing rules.
Travis Feuerbacher, a US immigration lawyer and former State Department official, added that failure to disclose a single account from the past five years could result in visa delays or cancellations.
Though currently limited to Harvard, there are growing fears that this policy will soon apply to all international students heading to the US. The UK, home to thousands of students aspiring to study in the United States, is watching developments closely.
The policy follows a freeze on new student visa appointments, raising further concern that students due to begin their studies in summer and autumn 2025 may not arrive in time.
The directive also comes amid heightened political tension between the US administration and Harvard, with threats to revoke the university’s federal funding over claims of antisemitism.
As the situation unfolds, international education stakeholders across the UK and beyond are urging clarity and a swift resolution to prevent disruption to academic plans.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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