New guidelines have been released by the US consulates in Karachi and Lahore mandating that candidates for the F, M, and J non-immigrant visas make their social media accounts publicly accessible.
The action is a component of a larger effort by the US government to strengthen its visa screening processes.
According to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters, the US administration on Wednesday ordered the resumption of student visa appointments but will drastically increase its social media screening in an effort to find any candidates who might be antagonistic against the US.
All applicants for student and exchange visitor status must now undergo a “comprehensive and thorough vetting” by US consulate officials in order to determine.
