People walk in Harvard Yard at Harvard University on April 15, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photo: AFP

The US State Department said it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review, AP reported.

Responding to the US Department of State's announcement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at Thursday's press briefing that China-US educational cooperation is mutually beneficial. 

"China consistently opposes the politicization of educational exchanges and hopes the US will translate President Trump's welcoming remarks toward Chinese students into concrete actions, effectively safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the US," Guo noted. 

The US last month temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the US while preparing to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said, per media reports.

On June 5 during a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump said the US-China relationship is very important, and that the US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America, Xinhua News Agency reported.

In interviews with the Global Times on Thursday, Chinese visa consultancies said some Chinese students who have been admitted to US universities are now choosing alternative study destinations. They revealed that US authorities have significantly tightened social media vetting procedures in recent years, with some Chinese applicants even being required to submit their Xiaohongshu (Red Note) account information for review.

Chinese students studying in the US said the unclear criteria for such screening is "just an excuse to reject people arbitrarily," and makes them feel like the US simply does not welcome international students anymore.

Chinese observers added that such policy flip-flops could greatly undermine the US' appeal for foreign talents. Such inconsistencies in US policy, not only in the student visa domain but other aspects such as tariffs, will further erode trust among the international community.

'Human rights beacon' in question

Under the latest development in US visa processing, all applications for F, M and J nonimmigrant visas, which are for scholarly exchanges and research, will be reviewed, the New York Times reported.

Consular officers at missions overseas have been instructed to look for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the US." The State Department did not provide further details on how officers would define that criteria, the report said.

The new rule further states that this screening will apply for both new and returning student visa applicants. Consular officers must take "detailed case notes" about their review of applicants' online presences and "take screenshots to preserve the record against possible later alteration or loss of the information," reported Politico.

A Chinese student who had already scheduled a visa interview before the suspension to study in a US university for a Master of Arts program told the Global Times on Thursday that she had also been asked to provide her social media accounts during the visa application. 

"This social media screening is utterly confusing. No one understands what they're actually screening for - is this targeting only Chinese students? What are the actual criteria? Feels like it's just an excuse to reject people arbitrarily," she said on condition of anonymity.

"Passing the visa screening doesn't mean you're done. Even with a visa, immigration officers can still pull you into secondary interrogation at entry point. Whether you eventually get admitted or not, the whole experience is incredibly stressful. My feeling is that the US simply doesn't welcome international students anymore," she continued.

The Global Times learned from two visa service agencies on Thursday that the US State Department directive allows diplomatic posts to resume the scheduling of interviews for educational and exchange visas, but the appointment system at the US embassies and consulates in China remains closed.

The agencies noted that June and July are peak seasons for student visa applications. "Many students who have received offers from US universities have been waiting anxiously since the suspension of appointments for visa interviews in late May, as some programs start as early as August. Some students have already opted to study in the UK, Canada, or Australia instead," Shen Liyong, a visa service consultant working at Wulove Global Visa Center, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Regarding social media screening, Shen noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-immigrant visa application form has already required applicants to list more than 20 kinds of social media accounts, including Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, WeChat, Sina Weibo, Twitter, VKONTAKTE, and Youtube. The scrutiny has since become even stricter. 

"For example, the current form does not explicitly list Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, a popular Chinese social app. However, some students have been asked to provide their Xiaohongshu account during in-person interviews," Shen said.

Upon learning the news, an education blogger who tracks overseas study trends posted on Xiaohongshu: "Is this the America that boasts freedom and equality? Are they trying to filter students who align with their specific values through these measures?"

"For Chinese students planning to study in the US, this undoubtedly adds more uncertainty to their academic pursuits. With this new policy, it feels like the bar for studying in America has been raised again," the blogger said. "This back-and-forth policy change has also left many prospective students and their parents in a state of anxious uncertainty."

The US government's decision to suspend and then resume student visas was primarily driven by domestic pressure from universities, Congress, and media across the country, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Regarding the strengthened social media screening, Li said this move by the self-proclaimed "beacon of human rights" demonstrates a complete disregard for applicants' privacy and freedom of speech, while at the same time politicizing visa standards to filter students. "Such an approach will further dampen the attractiveness of US universities," the expert noted.