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3mo ago

US Embassy in India Requires Public Social Media Profiles for Student and Exchange Visitor Visa Applicants

Adopted after a pause in student visa interviews, the directive aims to broaden digital vetting for national security.

US State Department releases new rules for visas
The rule aims to identify those who pose a threat to the national security and hence stand inadmissible to the country.
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People hold up signs during the Harvard Students for Freedom rally in support of international students at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 27. Photo: AFP

Overview

  • Effective June 23, applicants for F, M and J non-immigrant visas must set all personal social media accounts to public for consular review of online content.
  • The guideline builds on a 2019 policy that required visa applicants to submit social media identifiers by granting officers full access to public posts.
  • It follows the June 18 resumption of student visa appointments under the Trump administration’s enhanced background-check procedures.
  • Indian students and privacy advocates warn that forced public profiles could expose personal data and deter free expression.
  • While India remains exempt from a separate travel ban affecting nationals of 19 countries, long interview backlogs continue to delay visas.