The US Embassy in India has issued a strict warning for visa applicants. If an Indian applicant removes or skips details of their social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), etc., from the visa application form, their current visa may be cancelled.
They may also be banned from getting a US visa in the future. The embassy clearly said this rule applies to hiding any social media information.
Social Media Profiles Must Be Public
Applicants are also required to make their social media profiles public. This is so that US officials can review the posts, likes, and comments of the applicant during the screening process.
Mention Social Media Handles from the Last 5 Years
In a post on X, the US Embassy said that all social media handles (like Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.) used in the past 5 years must be entered in the DS-160 form. This form is used for most non-immigrant visa applications.
National Security Concern
The Embassy said that “Every US visa decision is a national security decision,” meaning that the approval or denial of a visa is directly related to US national security.
Rule Enforced More Strictly Now
Although this rule has been in place since 2019, the US Embassy has now started strictly enforcing it. Just mentioning your username is not enough—your profile must be public so the consular officer can view your activity.
Private or Missing Profiles Can Lead to Rejection
If your social media profile is private or not mentioned in the visa form, it may be seen as an attempt to hide information. This can lead to immediate visa rejection or ineligibility for future visa applications.
Applies Strongly to Student and Exchange Visas
This rule is especially strict for applicants of F (student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor) visas.
The US Embassy said it is a necessary step in the background check and national security verification process.
