The US Embassy in India on Thursday asked visa applicants to disclose all social media usernames and handles from the past five years for background checks. The Embassy said that violating this could lead to rejection of visas and ineligibility for future visas.
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit,” the Embassy said in a statement on X.
“Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” it added.
The move is part of the Donald Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to “enhance security and ensure the integrity” of the visa process.
Earlier on Monday, days after the US State Department resumed processing of student visa applications, the US Embassy asked all student visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for background checks.
“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to the public to facilitate the vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,” the US Embassy in India posted on X.
The Trump administration last month ordered all of its consulates worldwide to stop new student visa interviews and applications for exchange visitor visas.
Meanwhile, US officials claimed migrants were “loosely vetted” by the Joe Biden administration and that the system was plagued by frauds. It announced plans to more heavily scrutinise and review the social media accounts of immigrants applying to move into the US.
Applicants are now required to share their social media handles and ensure their accounts are set to public for screening. US consular officers will review online activity for any content the government may find troubling, including signs of hostility toward American citizens, values, institutions, culture, or the country’s founding principles.
The fresh move comes as the US Department of State plans social media vetting before the visas are provided.
WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA VETTING?
Social media vetting involves scrutinising an applicant’s online activity to assess their eligibility for entry. Officials will review the social media accounts of prospective students to determine whether they should be allowed to study at US institutions.
This includes screening of social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok among others.
This move is viewed as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten control over international students, especially in response to last year’s widespread pro-Palestine demonstrations on US college campuses.
The US says analysing social media information during the visa process is aimed at strengthening national security measures.
“Since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security,” the Embassy added in its statement issued last Monday, June 23.
The F visa is primarily for academic students enroled in universities, colleges, or other academic institutions, while the M visa is designated for vocational or non-academic students attending technical or trade schools. Meanwhile, the J visa is for exchange visitors participating in approved cultural and educational exchange programs.
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