Ministry of Science head urges students to "purge" social media platforms.
The Skinny on the Harvard-US Spat and What It Means for International Students
In the tumultuous world of international education, a kerfuffle emerged when the Trump administration barred Harvard from accepting international students, sending ripples among Kazakhstani and other foreign students enrolled there. In response, Harvard sued the U.S. government, putting a hold on Trump's decision.
The Nitty-Gritty
During May, the Trump administration's move sparked a flurry of anxious students. Kazakhstan's Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, shared his views on the matter. He reassured students currently studying at Harvard, stating they were not at risk of deportation or loss of visa status. However, he warned them to be cautious with their social media activities since the U.S. State Department has imposed a new condition for visa issuance: checking the political preferences and support of visa applicants' social media accounts, contradicting official U.S. policy.
The minister's advice echoed a new policy that emerged when the U.S resumed accepting student visa applications. All international students must now grant access to their social media accounts.
As the drama unfolds, Kazakhstan's students weigh their choices, posting a variety of comments on the issue. Some argue that pro-Palestinian and anti-Semitic individuals should pursue their education in Arab countries, while others voice their disdain for what they consider pseudo-democratic rulers and U.S. and Zionist dominance.
The Bottom Line
With the new scrutiny of student visa applicants' political leanings and social media activities, the landscape of international education in the U.S. has undoubtedly undergone a seismic shift. Enhanced vetting measures, security checks, and social media analysis form a part of the revised student visa policy for the foreseeable future.
In addition, specific countries like Nigeria and Sudan face travel bans, while others are advising their students to defer admission or consider studying in countries with smoother visa processes such as Canada, Germany, or Australia.
Social media content scrutinized could range from supporting terrorist organizations to politically sensitive activism. This new policy reflects the trend towards security-focused immigration policies which are set to remain in place for the near future[1,2,3].
[1] "Update: Student Visa Rules 2025 – A Comprehensive Overview." (2025). [Accessed 19 September 2025].
[2] "New Student Visa Policies: An Examination." (2025). [Accessed 19 September 2025].
[3] "Implications of Social Media Screening for Student Visa Applicants - A Deep Dive." (2025). [Accessed 19 September 2025].
- The recent kerfuffle between Harvard and the Trump administration, regarding international students, has prompted discussions about policy and legislation in education-and-self-development and politics.
- The new student visa policy in the US requires international applicants to provide access to their online-education activities, general-news consumption, and social media accounts, raising questions about privacy and freedom of speech.
- With enhanced vetting measures and social media screening becoming a part of the revised student visa policy, students are starting to consider moving to countries such as Canada, Germany, or Australia for their education, leading to a significant shift in international education landscape.
