Latest news with #socialMediaVetting
BreakingNews.ie
23-06-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach criticises ‘excessive' measures faced by students seeking US visas
The Taoiseach has described a decision to subject students applying for J1 visas to a 'comprehensive and thorough vetting' of their social media as 'excessive'. Micheál Martin said he does not agree nor approve of the measures announced by the US embassy on Monday. Advertisement Ireland's national students' union said the new measures represent a significant and disproportionate intrusion into personal lives and digital privacy, and that they raise serious concerns about freedom of expression and online surveillance. The changes also apply for other exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications. All applicants are asked to list all their social media profiles, and make their accounts publicly accessible. Failure to do so could lead to a visa being rejected. Advertisement Referring to the US, Mr Martin told reporters in Dublin that there is an issue 'around freedom of speech'. 'I believe those measures by the United States are excessive,' he said. 'I don't approve of them. I don't agree with them. One of the great things in the world, in the modern world, has been the capacity for young people to travel and mobility is important. 'The US is probably one of the more difficult countries to to get into, at times. There is an issue around freedom of speech, but it's more the atmosphere that's created by these measures, the fear and the anxiety that young people will now experience travelling. Advertisement 'My understanding is applications are down in terms of J1 (visas). We have witnessed a pause on the processing of J1 most recently. 'There's been a longstanding, obviously, relationship with America in terms of young people travelling and American young people travelling to Ireland. 'In the context of the European Union, we would love to have young citizens from the United Kingdom travelling freely across Europe. That's the Irish position, and vice versa. 'I understand the security, but I think good intelligence and good security can stymie anyone who would be out to attack a country or attack America. I understand that. I get that, but I think it is excessive in respect of the measures announced today.' Advertisement The US embassy said that it will use all available information in its visa screening to identify those who 'are inadmissible' to the US, including those who pose a threat to national security. In a statement on Monday, it said that a US visa 'is a privilege, not a right'. It said that it protects the US by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety, adding: 'Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications. 'To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public'. Advertisement 'Visa applicants are required to list all social media user names or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. 'Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. 'Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.' The US embassy in Dublin will resume scheduling F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applications 'soon'. It added: 'Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. 'The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.' Aontas na Mac Leinn in Eirinn (AMLE), formerly known as the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), expressed concern over the changes. AMLE deputy president Bryan O'Mahony said: 'Students should not be subjected to invasive scrutiny simply for seeking educational and cultural opportunities abroad. Ireland Leo Varadkar says Keir Starmer should not 'try to... Read More 'These changes create a climate of fear and self-censorship, and risk unfairly penalising students from marginalised or politically active communities.' The union called on the Irish Government to advocate for the 'rights and dignity' of students seeking to study, work or travel on a J1 visa. The AMLE advised students applying for a J1 visa or any US student visa this summer to 'remain informed, stay safe and carefully review what they are sharing publicly online'.
BreakingNews.ie
23-06-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Students seeking US visas to face ‘thorough vetting' of social media
Students applying for J1 visas will undergo 'comprehensive and thorough vetting' of their social media, the US Embassy has announced. The changes also apply for other exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications. Advertisement All applicants are asked to list all their social media profiles, and make their accounts publicly accessible. Failure to do so could lead to a visa being rejected. The embassy said that it will use all available information in its visa screening to identify those who 'are inadmissible' to the US, including those who pose a threat to national security. In a statement on Monday, it said that a US visa 'is a privilege, not a right'. Advertisement It said that it protects the US by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety, adding: 'Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications. 'To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public'. 'Visa applicants are required to list all social media user names or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. 'Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Advertisement 'Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.' Ireland Irish citizens evacuated from Iran Read More The US Embassy in Dublin will resume scheduling F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applications 'soon'. It added: 'Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. 'The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.' Advertisement
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
US stops scheduling visa interviews for foreign students while it expands social media vetting
WASHINGTON — The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said. A U.S. official said Tuesday the suspension is intended to be temporary and does not apply to applicants who had previously scheduled interviews. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal administration document. A cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press says the State Department plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting. 'Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity' until the guidance is issued, the cable says. Asked about the suspension at a briefing Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the U.S. uses every available resource to vet people applying for visas. 'We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that's coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,' Bruce said. The move, first reported by Politico, is the latest in the Trump administration's crackdown on international students . Last week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students , removing it from the program that allows schools to sponsor foreign students for visas. That effort was quickly challenged in court and blocked by a federal judge. This spring the administration also revoked the legal status of thousands of international students already in the country, leading some to leave the country out of fear of deportation. After many students filed successful legal challenges, the administration said it was restoring the students' status, but the government also expanded the grounds for terminating international students' legal status. President Donald Trump's previous administration stepped up reviews of all visa applicants, introducing reviews of their social media accounts. The policy remained during the Biden administration. An extended pause in scheduling student visas could lead to delays that may disrupt students' plans to enroll in summer and fall terms. A downturn in enrollment of international students could hurt university budgets, as some institutions shifted to enrolling more international students who pay full tuition to make up for funding shortfalls. ___ The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
US halts student visa appointments and plans expanded social media vetting
The Trump administration has ordered US embassies to stop scheduling appointments for students visa and to expand social media vetting of foreigners applying to study at American a copy of a memo sent to diplomatic posts, and viewed by the BBC's US partner CBS News, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the pause in student visa appointments would last "until further guidance is issued".Rubio's message said the temporary pause was in preparation for expanded social media vetting on student and foreign exchange visas, which would have "significant implications" for embassies and administration has in recent months taken steps to revoke a number of visas for pro-Palestinian activist students, as part of what the White House has described as an effort to combat antisemitism on campuses. The state department memo directed US embassies on Tuesday to remove any unfilled appointments from their calendars for students seeking visas, but said those with appointments already scheduled could go message also said the state department was preparing for an "expansion of required social media screening and vetting" applicable to all student visa administration seeks to pull estimated $100m in Harvard fundingForeign students who want to study in the US are usually required to schedule interviews at an American embassy in their home country before asked about student visas, state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Tuesday: "We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country, and we're going to continue to do that."The Trump administration has frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for universities and moved to deport several students, while revoking thousands of visas for others. Many of these actions have been blocked by the White House has accused some US universities of failing to protect Jewish students on have accused the Trump administration of trying to infringe upon universities' free speech University has been the focal point of President Donald Trump's ire. He also accuses it of flouting a Supreme Court ruling by engaging in discriminatory admissions week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard's ability to enrol international students or host foreign researchers. A federal judge blocked the Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard was handed the penalty for "fostering violence, antisemitism and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus".
