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Trump Govt Introduces Tougher Visa Screening: The Donald Trump administration on Saturday announced “expanded screening and vetting” of certain types of visa applications with the aim of enhancing the safety and security of US citizens. Describing an American visa as “a privilege, not a right,” the US agency—responsible for managing American foreign policy and international relations—said the country must remain vigilant during the visa application process to ensure public safety.

• US authorities will conduct thorough vetting of visa applications

• Applicants for ‘F’, ‘M’, and ‘J’ nonimmigrant visas must change their social media profile privacy settings to ‘public’

• US overseas posts will soon resume scheduling such applications

The US State Department said it uses all available information during the visa screening and vetting process to identify applicants who are inadmissible to the US, “including those who pose a threat to US national security.” 

“Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting—including online presence—of all students and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications,” the department stated.

It added that it is “committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through the visa process".

Applicants under the said categories will be “instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public’,” the department noted.

These three types of visas are issued to foreign nationals to study or participate in exchange programs in the US.

While F and M visas are designated for students (F1 for academic and M1 for vocational studies), J visas are issued for exchange programs, including academic, vocational, and cultural exchange activities.

The United States’ latest move aligns with the Trump 2.0 administration’s protectionist stance and tougher immigration policies. 

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