The US Tightens Visa Screening for F, M, J Visa Applicants

The US: In a significant shift to its visa vetting policy, the US State Department has declared that, effective immediately, all applicants for F, M, or J non-immigrant visas must adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to ‘public’. The announcement was made through a post on the Department’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle and is part of what officials describe as a broader effort to enhance national security and immigration integrity.

“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,” the State Department posted.

This move redefines the US visa social media requirements and marks a clear signal that digital transparency is now non-negotiable for international students, vocational trainees, and exchange visitors heading to the U.S.

The US: Non-Compliance Could Mean Deportation or Visa Revocation

Adding weight to the directive, the American Embassy in India had earlier posted a stern warning on July 12:

“U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules – and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don’t.”

This clarification leaves no room for ambiguity — failing to make social media profiles public could lead to the denial of visa applications, revocation of existing visas, or even deportation.

Social Media Vetting: A Non-Negotiable Step in the Process

The US Embassy in India also released a video on X, further explaining what the new US visa social media requirements entail. The video emphasizes the importance of accuracy and completeness in digital identity disclosure.

“Applying for an F, M, or J Visa? Learn more about social media vetting requirements. Falsifying or omitting information can lead to visa denial and future visa ineligibility. If you have already submitted your DS-160, you can still edit it before your interview,” the post noted.

This reiterates a long-standing U.S. visa protocol introduced in 2019, which already required applicants to provide social media identifiers. The new directive, however, takes it a step further by demanding public visibility of those accounts, enabling immigration authorities to carry out more robust digital background checks.

The US: What Applicants Need to Know Right Now

Applicants must take the following steps to ensure they meet the US visa social media requirements:

1. Review all current social media platforms for privacy settings.

2. Change settings from ‘private’ or ‘friends only’ to ‘public’.

3. Ensure consistency between what is disclosed on the DS-160 and what appears online.

4. Avoid misinformation — any false claim or hidden account can result in automatic disqualification.

Even if the DS-160 form has already been submitted, updates can still be made before the visa interview, offering applicants a narrow window to correct any errors.

India Not Affected by New Travel Ban

In a separate but related development, the U.S. government has also announced a new 2025 travel ban, barring nationals from 12 countries entirely and partially limiting visa access for citizens from seven others. Fortunately, India is not on the list, and Indian nationals remain eligible to apply under the new US visa social media requirements.

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