US Embassy in India Announces New Social Media Rules for Visa Applicants
The US embassy in India has implemented a new guideline for applicants seeking student and exchange visitor visas. The updated rules, effective immediately, require all F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applicants to set their social media accounts to public. This move is aimed at facilitating the verification of applicants' identity and eligibility during the security screening process.
Key Takeaways:
- The new rule applies to all F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applicants and is effective immediately.
- The rule requires applicants to adjust the privacy settings on all social media accounts to public.
- The purpose of the rule is to facilitate vetting necessary to establish identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.
- Applicants with existing private social media accounts will need to make them public before submitting their visa applications.
- The US embassy has not specified how long applicants need to keep their profiles public, but the move signals increasing scrutiny of online behavior as part of visa vetting.
The new rule affects F, M, and J visa applicants, which are commonly used by academic students, vocational students, and exchange visitors, including researchers, scholars, and interns. Indian students and others planning to study or participate in US exchange programs will need to comply with the new rule.
Statistics:
- The new rule affects F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applicants, which are used by over 15,000 international students in the US (Source: ICEF Monitor).
- The US embassy has not specified the number of applicants affected by the new rule but has stated that it is aimed at facilitating vetting necessary to establish identity and admissibility.
- The rule is part of a broader effort to increase scrutiny of online behavior as part of visa vetting.
Sources:
- The US Embassy in India (@USInIndia)
- ICEF Monitor (ersen, M. (2022, February 9). Record number of international students in the US).