The United States Embassy in India announced a new rule on Monday, making it mandatory for all F, M, and J visa applicants to set their social media accounts to the public. The move aims to enable authorities to better verify an applicant’s identity and assess their admissibility under US law.
According to a statement issued by the embassy, every visa decision is treated as a national security decision. The new requirement is intended to help the US government review applicants’ social media profiles more effectively as part of its screening and vetting process.
“Every visa decision is a national security decision. This new step allows the US government to confirm an applicant’s identity and review their background more thoroughly,” the statement read.
The embassy also confirmed that, since 2019, visa seekers have been required to provide their social media usernames when submitting both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa forms. This information is used to assess any potential threat an individual might pose to the United States.
“Since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers. We use this information in our visa screening and vetting to identify applicants who may be inadmissible, including those who could pose a threat to US national security,” the statement added.
The new rule applies to applicants of F, M, and J category visas, which cover students and exchange visitors. Effective immediately, these applicants must adjust their privacy settings from ‘private’ to ‘public’ across all social media platforms.
The United States Embassy said this step reflects its ongoing commitment to ensuring that visa decisions align with national security interests while facilitating a thorough review process.
