US tightens visa rules for students, exchange visitors
The United States government has introduced stricter requirements for non-immigrant visa applicants, particularly those seeking F, M and J visas, which cover academic students, vocational students and exchange visitors.
In a statement, US officials underscored that applicants “should schedule their visa interview appointments at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence or nationality. Visa application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.”
Effective immediately, applicants for these categories of visas are now required to adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to “public” in order to facilitate vetting.
According to the US government, this measure is aimed at helping to “establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law.”
The announcement also highlighted that a recent Presidential Proclamation restricting the entry of foreign nationals from certain countries remains in force, having taken effect on 9 June 2025.
“Applicants who are subject to this Presidential Proclamation may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States,” the statement noted.
Ghanaians aspiring to study or take part in exchange programmes in the US are therefore urged to acquaint themselves with the revised guidelines to avoid setbacks in their applications.
Full details on the new rules are available on the official State Department website at travel.state.gov.
