Department of State Resumes Student and Scholar Visa Appointments with Expanded Social Media Vetting
Introduction
On Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that it would resume scheduling of student and scholar (F, M, and J) visa appointments with expanded vetting of applicants' online presence. All scheduling of F, M, and J visa appointments had been on pause since May 27, 2025.
The DOS announcement explains that in order to identify individuals who are inadmissible to the U.S., "all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public'." While the DOS announcement does not specifically say consular officials will be looking for, a recent announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided more information on the scope of social media vetting within the context of immigration benefit requests.
In addition, some news outlets have reported that DOS has instructed consulates to prioritize appointments for J-1 exchange visas, particularly physicians participating in U.S. medical programs, and for students intending to enroll at U.S. universities where international student enrollment is 15% or less of the total student population.
Members of the UIC international community in need of an initial or renewed F or J visa should monitor their local embassy or consulate website for appointment availability. Take caution with any individual or organization claiming the ability to secure an expedited visa appointment or approval for a fee. This is most likely a scam.
The Office of International Services will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide updates as needed. If you would like to discuss your case or get help, please send a message to ois@uic.edu or make an appointment with an OIS advisor. We look forward to working with you.
If you experience an immigration-related emergency during a time when the office is closed, please call the OIS Emergency After Hours Contact.
Please note that the information shared in this message is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.