US Embassy resumes student visa interviews after nearly 3-week suspension

People line up in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to apply for visas, May 28. Yonhap

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has resumed accepting interview appointments for student and exchange visitor visas, nearly three weeks after suspending the process.

The resumption comes alongside stricter screening guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of State, which now requires applicants to disclose their online presence.

The embassy began processing the F (student), M (vocational training), and J (exchange visitor) visa categories again on Friday, after a suspension that began on May 28.

Online communities for students planning to study in the U.S. had postings that a limited number of interview slots were released shortly after 11 a.m. on Friday. The slots were filled within minutes, reflecting a surge in demand.

The embassy also said under the new guidelines, all student and exchange visitor visa applicants will be subject to more extensive screening processes, including a review of online activities, so applicants will be asked to set their social media profiles to public to facilitate background checks.

"Every visa adjudication is a national security decision," the embassy said in a statement shared with The Korea Times. “We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security.”

On Wednesday (local time), the state department also said in an announcement on its website that the social media screening is a part of comprehensive and thorough vetting.

It indicated that visa applications could be denied if the applicant does not allow access to their social media posts. Additionally, U.S. consular officers worldwide have been directed to assess whether applicants display hostility toward the American public, culture, government, institutions or founding ideals.

While the U.S. government has full authority over visa issuance as a sovereign right, the use of social media content as grounds for denial is likely to spark debate about freedom of expression.