By Belinda Nketia
The U.S. Embassy in Ghana has announced expanded screening and vetting procedures for student and exchange visitor visa applicants, requiring all individuals applying for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas.
In a statement published on its official Facebook page, the U.S. State Department stated that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right, and that national security remains central to the visa issuance process. “We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the statement read.
The expanded measures include a review of applicants’ online presence to assess eligibility. To facilitate this, all applicants will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to allow public access.
The statement added that overseas posts will soon resume scheduling appointments for F, M, and J visa categories, and applicants are advised to check the websites of relevant embassies and consulates for availability.
The post drew varied responses online. Some commenters welcomed the move as necessary and fair, while others voiced concerns about privacy and free expression but according to the statement, this directive forms part of efforts to strengthen national security and public safety in the United States of America because “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision”
