Why US Wants Access To All Social Media Accounts Of Visa Applicants: Explained

The United States has mandated that all visa applicants, including Indians, set their social media accounts to public for enhanced screening of tourists and immigrants in view of "national security and public safety." The US Embassy in India last week asked visa applicants to list the usernames or handles of every social media platform they have used over the last five years in their application form. "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 said in a notification on June 23. A similar notification was issued for DS-160 visa applicants on June 26. The increased focus on social media scrutiny for securing US visas, including for Indians working and studying in American institutions, has become more precarious. Why Social Media Accounts Are Under Scrutiny? The provision for social media vetting for US visa applicants has been in place since 2019. However, the new announcements signal that foreign nationals will be subjected to an increased level of scrutiny. The enhanced surveillance comes amid President Trump's crackdown on immigration, leading to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids on illegal immigrants. It also coincides with rising anti-Israel protests and anti-ICE sentiment on college campuses across the United States, particularly after several government actions against pro-Palestinian students. The Trump administration appears to be filtering out applicants who have dissenting views, especially on geopolitical flashpoints such as Israel-Palestine or immigration enforcement. Authorities appear to be monitoring individuals' cultural values, political leanings, and perceived "radical" views expressed on social media.

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Published on: 03 Jul, 2025