By Kavita Mistry 
There are new challenges that Indian students are now facing with visa application process, which is the stricter social media screening rules.
Recently, several of the applicants have reported visa rejections that are linked to their online activity, raising concerns about freedom of expression and the transparency of visa decisions.
With this, what was supposed to be a straightforward process, has now become a drawn-out ordeal for many hopeful students.
Social Media Posts and Visa Rejections
A 27 YO Indian student, Kaushik Raj, experienced a visa denial despite securing a $100,000 scholarship to study journalism at Columbia University. Though the official reasons have bene stated as insufficient ties to India, the candidate himself believes the rejection to stem from his critical social media posts about hate crimes and India’s treatment of Muslims influenced the decision.
He is not alone; multiple Indian students who passed other visa stages were rejected after social media vetting, even though they had lived in India their whole lives. Applicants must now provide all social media handles, often unaware of what content might be disqualifying.
Frustrated by the process, Raj, now plans to apply to UK instead, highlighting concerns over censorship both at home and abroad.
Heightened US Crackdown on Foreign Student Speech
The US has increased scrutiny of foreign students’ social media in recent months, particularly targeting those critical of American foreign policy. Several Indian students involved in pro-Palestine protests have faced visa revocation and deportation. In response, the US government has expanded vetting procedures, requiring applicants to make their social media public. Many students have reduced their online presence out of fear that posts could lead to visa cancellation or deportation. The visa process now includes prolonged “administrative processing,” with applicants sometimes spending thousands of dollars and months waiting, only to be rejected.
Summary
Stricter US visa screening now includes social media reviews, causing many Indian students to face unexpected rejections despite scholarships and completed application steps. Concerns over freedom of expression and opaque visa rules are rising as several students linked their denial to online posts. The tougher policies have led some to reconsider studying in the US amid fears of censorship and deportation.