In a major update for international students and exchange visitors, the United States Embassy in India has announced a new requirement for F, M, and J category nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective immediately, applicants under these categories must switch their social media privacy settings from private to public during the visa application process.
The move is aimed at enhancing identity verification and background checks as part of national security efforts. In an official post shared by the U.S. Embassy on social media, the statement read, “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. 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 U.S. law.”
This change applies to those applying for:
- F visas (students attending academic institutions),
- M visas (students attending vocational institutions), and
- J visas (exchange visitors).
Since 2019, U.S. visa applicants have already been required to submit their social media handles along with the visa forms. However, the latest update tightens the screening process further by mandating public access to those profiles.
The embassy clarified that this decision is part of routine security enhancements to assess any red flags related to immigration fraud, potential threats to U.S. interests, or misrepresentation. The vetting will use the available online data only to confirm authenticity and admissibility of candidates under U.S. immigration laws.
