Seoul: The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has resumed accepting visa applications for students and exchange visitors, introducing new requirements for applicants to make their social media profiles public.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the embassy's announcement coincides with the U.S. State Department's recent statement that all U.S. overseas missions will begin rescheduling applications for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas. The embassy emphasized the importance of thorough vetting of applicants' social media presence as part of the application process.

The embassy encouraged applicants to frequently check the U.S. visa scheduling website for updates as they plan to resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications soon. Applicants are required to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to 'public' as part of the application protocol.

In a notice shared on X, previously known as Twitter, the embassy reiterated that all F, M, and J visa applicants must ensure their social media posts are publicly accessible. Additionally, applicants must provide a list of all usernames used in the past five years on the DS-160 visa application form. The embassy warned that inaccurate or dishonest responses could lead to visa denial.

This decision follows a recent suspension of the student visa application process by the United States, aimed at enhancing the screening of foreigners who could pose potential threats to U.S. national security.