In a move that is being criticised by several stakeholders, the US Embassy has urged all US visa applicants in India to make their social media accounts public. Terming it a matter of “US national security decision”, the US State Department will henceforth examine individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa through their social media accounts as well.
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“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,” the US Embassy for India has posted on X.
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“Since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security,” adds the Embassy.
The US State Department has added that it was committed to protecting the US and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through its visa process. “A US visa is a privilege, not a right. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security. Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants,” adds the US State Department.
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The post adds that the United States would have to be vigilant to take care that applicants who are applying for the visa potentially mean no harm to Americans or national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the US visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.
