US Implements Stricter Visa Policy Requiring Disclosure of Social Media Accounts
In a brief statement released on Thursday, the US Embassy in India disclosed the information and warned that “omitting” social media posts could result in “visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.”
The United States says that every visa decision is a “national security decision” and has requested that applicants disclose the usernames or handles of any social media platforms they have used in the past five years.
In addition to sharing the information, the US Embassy in India warned that “omitting” social media posts could result in “visa denial and ineligibility for future visas” in a brief statement released on Thursday.
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form,” the statement that was put on X said. Before signing and submitting, applicants attest that the information on their visa application is accurate and truthful. “Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the message went on. The US Embassy requested on June 23 that applicants for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa change their social media accounts’ privacy settings to “public” in order to expedite the vetting process, which it claimed was required to prove their identity and legal admissibility to the US.
Additionally, the embassy stated that since 2019, the United States has mandated that applicants for both immigrant and non-immigrant visas include “social media identifiers” on their application forms.
Student visas fall under the F or M category, while exchange visitor visas fall under the J category. The embassy also sent two relevant digital posters in the correspondence on Thursday. A message and poster with the slogan, “Every U.S. visa adjudication is a national security decision,” were displayed.
“The United States requires applicants for visas to provide social media identifiers on visa application forms,” the message stated. We screen and verify applicants for visas using all available information. It coincides with the Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, California.
According to a statement released by the embassy on June 24, the United States has stepped up its enforcement of immigration regulations, and those who violate them risk imprisonment, expulsion, and irreversible repercussions for their ability to get visas in the future.
The United States also threatened deportation and jail time for individuals who entered the nation illegally.
This month, the US Embassy in India released a number of announcements regarding immigration and visas.
The embassy stated on June 19 that obtaining a US visa was “a privilege, not a right” and that it continued to evaluate applicants after they were granted one since they may have their visas revoked if they breached the law.
Additionally, according to the embassy, violating any US laws or taking illegal drugs while on a student or guest visa could result in one’s ineligibility for a future US visa.
The US Embassy in India similarly released remarks earlier this month, emphasising that although lawful visitors to the US are welcome, the nation will not accept unauthorised entry or visa abuse.
On June 16, the US embassy declared that it “will not tolerate” people who help illegal and large-scale immigration to the US.
The US had “established new visa restrictions” that targeted foreign government officials and violators, according to the US Embassy.
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