Trinidad and Tobago students and others applying for specific US visas must now set all of their social media profiles to public.
US Embassy Visa Chief Mike Mitchell said the US Embassy in Port of Spain says this new requirement applies to those applying under the F, M, and J non-immigrant visa categories, which include academic, vocational, and exchange programmes.
“This is to facilitate the vetting necessary to establish your identity and admissibility to the United States. The adjudication of visa applications is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States.”
The embassy warns that social media profiles must be set to public before submitting visa applications.
The new rule follows a June 21st announcement by the US Department of State, which expanded screening and vetting procedures. Officials say all available information, especially from online platforms, will be used to determine if applicants pose any threat to national security.
The policy aims to ensure applicants are entering the United States for legitimate reasons and intend to comply with the terms of their visa.