By Kavita Mistry 
In a significant move aimed at strengthening national security, the US Embassy in New Delhi has made it mandatory for all F, M, and J visa applicants to disclose their social media usernames and handles from the past five years. The directive applies to academic, vocational, and exchange-related nonimmigrant visa applicants who must now fill out this information truthfully in their DS-160 form.
The embassy warned that any omission or false declaration may lead to outright visa denial and make the applicant ineligible for future visas. “Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit,” the embassy stated in a recent post on X. Officials emphasised that omitting social media details would not only stall the current application but also damage future eligibility.
This policy is part of a wider social media vetting strategy that has been quietly evolving since 2019. The requirement, re-emphasised this week, reflects the Trump administration’s focus on national security and digital transparency. It also follows the recent restart of student visa processing in India.
Adding to the scrutiny, the embassy has also asked applicants to make their social media accounts public to facilitate identity verification. Platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok are among those likely to be screened. Consular officers will look for any content that may indicate a potential threat to US citizens, institutions, or values.
This step is reportedly a response to the rising concern over lax background checks and fraud during earlier visa vetting phases under the Biden administration. It also follows student-led protests and politically charged discourse across US campuses in the past year, prompting officials to further examine online activities before granting entry.
The embassy clarified that visa screening includes evaluating public digital footprints to assess admissibility under US immigration laws. F visas are primarily for students at universities and colleges, M visas cater to vocational learners, and J visas are issued for cultural and academic exchange programs.
With more than 200,000 Indian students studying in the US annually, this announcement holds significant weight. Applicants are advised to carefully follow the updated rules and ensure accurate disclosures, as the digital history they leave behind will now play a crucial role in determining their eligibility.