Overview

• On June 18 the State Department restarted processing F, M, and J visas for Fall 2025 and instructed applicants to set all social media profiles to public for comprehensive online vetting.
• Greg Pardo of the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai said the new policy aims to uphold national security by reviewing applicants’ digital footprints.
• Consulates will prioritize applicants headed to schools with less than 15 percent foreign enrollment, raising concerns among students bound for more international campuses.
• Indian students have expressed frustration and fear that private posts or deleted content could be misinterpreted, and refusal to comply may result in visa denial.
• Advocates warn the requirement could function as an ideological litmus test, prompting some prospective students to consider universities in the UK and Canada.