US tightens student visa rules, targets class skippers, dropouts

In a notice issued Wednesday afternoon, the US Embassy in Nairobi urged students to remain committed to their academic programmes and comply with institutional requirements to maintain visa eligibility.

“Heading to the U.S. on a student visa? Ensure you stay on track! Skipping classes or leaving your program without notifying your school could impact your visa status and future travel plans,” the embassy stated.

The embassy noted that students who abandon their programmes, fail to attend classes, or withdraw without formal notice risk having their visa status revoked and being deemed ineligible for future travel to the United States.

The announcement comes shortly after another directive requiring visa applicants to provide social media account information for the past five years, with false or incomplete disclosures carrying similar consequences.

The US State Department has also advised applicants for non-immigrant visas under categories F, M, and J to make their social media accounts public if previously set to private.

According to the State Department, these measures are part of a broader effort to protect US national security and public safety.

“The State Department is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” it said in an earlier statement.