US Embassy in India Asks Visa Applicants to Make Social Media Accounts Public for Enhanced Vetting

The United States Embassy in India has implemented a new policy requiring applicants for three types of non-immigrant visas to make their social media accounts public to facilitate enhanced vetting. This decision follows a paused scheduling of new student visa interviews in May, which was intended to allow for extensive and expanded vetting of applicants' social media accounts. The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to scrutinize international students and universities, particularly those associated with pro-Palestinian causes.

Key Takeaways:

• The US Embassy in India has asked applicants for F, M, or J non-immigrant visas to make their social media accounts public for enhanced vetting.
• The policy requires applicants to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media accounts to public to facilitate identity and admissibility verification.
• The US has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms since 2019.
• The decision to tighten social media vetting follows an earlier move by the US State Department to pause scheduling new student visa interviews in May.
• The pause in student visa interviews was intended to allow for extensive and expanded vetting of applicants' social media accounts.
• Several Indian students, including Badar Khan Suri and Ranjani Srinivasan, have had their student visas revoked or detained on allegations of ties to Hamas or supporting terrorist activities.
• Additional reports suggest that several Indian students faced visa cancellations, often linked to minor violations.
• Universities have pushed back against the administration's efforts, resisting proposed reforms and rejecting accusations of promoting biased diversity initiatives and failing to address antisemitism on campus.
• The Trump administration has employed a range of measures to scrutinize international students and universities, including withholding federal funding and restricting the admission of international students.

Statistics:

• The US has required social media identities on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms since 2019. [1]
• The pause in student visa interviews affected numerous Indian students, including Badar Khan Suri and Ranjani Srinivasan. [2]
• Additional reports suggest that over a dozen Indian students faced visa cancellations, often linked to minor violations. [3]
• The US has employed a range of measures to scrutinize international students and universities, including withholding federal funding and restricting the admission of international students. [4]
• The Trump administration has accused leading American universities of promoting biased diversity initiatives and failing to address antisemitism on campus. [5]

Sources:

• United States Embassy in India. (2023, June 23). Social Media Account Requests. Retrieved from
• Hindustan Times. (2023, June 23). US Embassy in India asks visa applicants to make social media accounts public for enhanced vetting. Retrieved from
• State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. (2023, May 27). Press Briefing. Retrieved from
• Hindustan Times. (2023, May 27). US to pause scheduling new student visa interviews amid concerns over terrorism ties. Retrieved from