Washington DC, June 21 -- All applicants for F, M, and J category non-immigrant US visas-designated for students and exchange visitors-will now be required to set their social media profiles to "public", the US State Department announced on Friday.

In a statement, the department emphasised that a US visa is "a privilege, not a right", and that screening procedures do not end after a visa is granted. Authorities retain the right to revoke a visa if the holder violates US laws.

The move to require social media accounts to be publicly visible is aimed at aiding this vetting process.

The department added, "Our overseas posts will resume scheduling F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applications soon. Applicants should check the relevant embass...