The US has made its visa rules more strict, especially for students. Now all students applying for F, M, and J category visas will have to tell their social media account names (handles) used in the last five years. Also, these accounts will have to do public (worth everyone).
Why this change?
The US State Department has issued this directive so that Visa officers can confirm the identity of the applicant and check if the applicant is against the US, does not support terrorism, or there is no anti -Jewish spirit or harassment material to anyone.
When is it applicable?
This new policy was declared on 18 June 2025. After this, American embassies around the world were instructed to stop the new student visa interview until these new social media investigation rules are implemented. By June 25, all applicants applying for the first time or renewing it for the visa will have to follow these rules.
Which platforms have to be given information?
Applicants will have to choose from about 20 social media platforms while filling the DS-160 form (or for immigrant visas). These include platforms like Facebook, X (first Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Tiktok, Snapchat, Pinterest, TUMBLR, Weibo, Douban. You will have to give all the username or handle used in the last five years.
What will be seen?
Visa officers will check all the publicly available activities on these accounts. They will also see how your online presence is. Officers will especially focus on these things:
1) signs of enmity towards American citizens, culture, government or its original ideas.
2) Support or advocacy of terrorist groups like Hamas.
3) Unlawful anti -Jewish harassment or violence.
4) Any behavior that makes you not reliable or can violate visa rules.
5) If they get anything worrisome, they will take a screenshot of it and enter the complete information.
What if you do not follow the rules?
If you do not give information about your social media handle, do not public, or close the account/keep them private, then it will be considered deferred. This will question your credibility and dismiss your visa application, or in future you may be disqualified for visa.
What should students do now?
1) Make a list of username of all the social media accounts you have used in the last five years.
2) Update the privacy setting of those accounts on ‘public’.
3) Avoid deleting your content or suddenly changing the settings just before the visa application, as it can cause doubt.
4) Look at your old posts carefully and if there is anything that can be considered against America or extremist, remove or archive it.
There are more than one million international students in the US, and thousands of students from India apply every year. These new rules are expected to have a huge impact on the students. Experts say that students should now be very careful about their digital footprints and show complete transparency in the visa application process.