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U.S. will review social media for foreign student visa applications

The U.S. State Department said it is restarting the process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for review.

All students applying for a visa will need to set their social media profiles to "public," according to a post Wednesday on the State Department's website, saying that the additional screening was part of the vetting process to exclude applicants who "pose a threat to U.S. national security." This new policy is the latest in what has been an emotional roller-coaster for foreign students who have been waiting anxiously for visa interview appointments and more information, amid the Trump administration's assault on universities, immigration and travel. More than a million international students are currently enrolled in American colleges and universities, according to the State Department, contributing more than $40 billion to the country's economy each year.But the Trump administration's moves have already had a significant chilling effect.

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