Seoul: The U.S. Embassy in Seoul announced plans to soon resume the acceptance of visa applications for student and exchange visitors. This decision follows a suspension aimed at tightening the screening process for foreign nationals potentially posing a security threat.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the resumption aligns with the U.S. State Department's recent statement indicating 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," which includes reviewing applicants' presence on social media.

The embassy stated in a media release that it will soon resume scheduling for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the U.S. visa scheduling website at for updates. Furthermore, all applicants are instructed to change their social media privacy settings to 'public' as part of the application process.

The decision to resume applications comes after the U.S. temporarily halted the student visa application process. This move was part of a broader effort to enhance the screening of foreigners and safeguard U.S. national security.