US Edition
Applicants for US Nonimmigrant Visas Must Update Social Media Privacy Settings
- On Monday, the US Embassy in India announced that individuals applying for student and exchange visitor visas must make their social media accounts publicly accessible to facilitate background checks.
- This directive follows a policy, effective immediately, that requires listing all social media handles used in the last five years to enable comprehensive background checks.
- The State Department emphasized that every visa decision is a national security matter to prevent admission of those intending harm and ensure applicants meet visa terms.
- Over 1.1 million international students attended universities in the United States during the 2023-24 academic year, with India contributing the largest number of students; meanwhile, failing to provide social media information on visa applications may result in denial.
- The changes suggest tighter security checks for applicants but raise concerns over privacy and freedom of expression among affected student communities globally.
84 Articles
84 Articles
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.” Thus, on June 18, the U.S. Embassy in Chile announced the immediate implementation of a comprehensive social media evaluation of foreign citizens applying for ‘student’ and ‘visiting academic’ visas upon resuming the processing of such applications that had been suspended since June 7. The measure, in fact, was accompanied by an image that stated: “Remember: when you apply for your nonimmigrant visa app…
According to the US Embassy in Budapest, the regulation is being introduced to facilitate screening.
Visa applicants must go public on social media, says US embassy
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians planning to apply for visas to study or participate in exchange programmes in the United States must now make their social media accounts public, as part of enhanced vetting procedures. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
US asks visa applicants to list social media details, MEA ‘hopes’ for selection on merit - The Tribune
Emphasising that each visa adjudication was impacted national security, the US has asked applicants to share their social media usernames and handles of each platform they have used in the last five years.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources lean Left
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
