The U.S. Embassy in Brazil released a statement on Wednesday (25) informing that it will proceed with checking the social media profiles of all applicants for student and exchange visas.
“To facilitate this verification, all student visa applicants (F, M, and J) must adjust the privacy settings of their social media profiles to ‘public’ mode,” the embassy stated in a note published on its official website.
The F visa is requested by those intending to enter the country to study at a university or school. The M visa is for students at vocational or non-academic institutions. And the J visa is for exchange students.
The U.S. government justified the measure by arguing that it uses “all available information” to determine whether visa applicants to enter the United States pose a threat to that country’s security.
The note released on Wednesday is directed at the Brazilian public regarding a measure announced a week ago by the U.S. Department of State. On that occasion, a telegram from that organ of the Donald Trump government stated that consulate staff will be required to conduct a “comprehensive and complete” verification of all student candidates and exchange participants to identify those who “have hostile attitudes” toward U.S. citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.
Fonte: Agência Brasil