Student Visa Applicants: Make Social Profiles Public

In a significant update to its visa screening procedures, the U.S. Department of State has announced that all applicants for F, M, and J category visas must make their social media profiles publicly accessible prior to their visa interview. The directive, which takes immediate effect, aims to enhance national security screening and identity verification processes.

The announcement was first implemented by the U.S. Embassy in India and is expected to be applied consistently across other U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide. Applicants are now required to disclose social media handles used over the past five years and ensure that their profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn are set to public visibility.

U.S. officials stated that the new policy is designed to help consular officers detect potential red flags, such as content that supports terrorism, antisemitism, harassment, or anti-American views. A failure to comply with the public visibility requirement or the omission of any social media handles could lead to visa refusal.

The policy has sparked concern among students and privacy advocates, who argue that it could lead to surveillance overreach and may deter international students from choosing the U.S. as an educational destination. Some students have reportedly started exploring alternative destinations such as Canada, the UK, and European nations with more relaxed digital vetting standards.

Visa interview slots for U.S. student visas, which had been temporarily suspended, have now resumed—making compliance with this new requirement essential for timely application processing.

Conclusion:
With digital transparency now a critical component of U.S. visa evaluations, prospective international students are advised to review their online presence carefully and ensure full disclosure in their visa applications.