Social Media Accounts: Recently America has restarted the student visa process, and with this, a new condition has come up for Indian applicants.

Social Media Accounts: Recently America has restarted the student visa process, and with this, a new condition has come up for Indian applicants. The Indian Embassy in America has appealed to the students to make their social media accounts public so that there is no hindrance in visa verification.

Step taken for investigation

The US Embassy posted on X (formerly Twitter) saying, "From now on, all applicants for F, M and J category visas are expected to make the privacy settings of their social media accounts public so that their personality and eligibility for entry into the US can be properly investigated." Its purpose is to make the visa process more transparent and secure. Social media vetting i.e. checking of online activities has now become an important part of the US visa policy.

Which accounts will be investigated?

US officials will investigate the activities of students on platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok. In this investigation, it will be seen whether any applicant has shared objectionable or opposing views against the US, its policies, institutions, or people.

Expansion of Trump administration policy

This move is part of the Trump administration's policy which talked about strict background checks of foreigners coming to the US. Just last month, the Trump administration had instructed US embassies around the world to temporarily stop new student and exchange visa interviews. At the same time, the Biden administration was accused of increasing fraud due to lax investigation of immigrants during its time.

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… pic.twitter.com/xotcfc3Qdo

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 23, 2025

Now the US says that on the basis of information received from social media, it will decide who is suitable for a visa and who can prove to be a threat to national security.

Three major categories of visas

F visa: For academic students studying in universities and colleges

M visa: For students pursuing technical and vocational education

J visa: For those participating in cultural and educational exchange programs

Visa eligibility will be decided by social media data

The embassy clarified that "Since 2019, the US has been demanding social media IDs from visa applicants. Now we will use this information to strengthen national security and identify ineligible people."