India Urges US to Review Student Visa Applications on Merit Amid New Social Media Disclosure Rules
India has expressed concern over the United States’ updated visa policy, which now requires applicants—including Indian students—to disclose their social media handles from the past five years. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged the US to ensure that visa applications from Indian nationals are assessed on merit, rather than on social media activity alone.
The response came shortly after the US Embassy in India issued a set of new guidelines regarding the DS-160 visa application form, used for F (academic students), M (vocational students), and J (exchange visitors) visa categories. The guidelines state that applicants must now provide a list of all social media platforms and account names they have used over the past five years.
India’s Official Statement: Evaluate Based on Merit
Speaking on behalf of the Indian government, MEA spokesperson Mr. Jaiswal acknowledged that immigration and visa policies fall under the sovereign jurisdiction of individual nations. However, he emphasized that India believes visa decisions should prioritize the applicant’s qualifications and merits.
“Immigration and visa issues are sovereign functions of any country,” he stated. “That said, we have taken note of the US embassy’s instruction mandating the inclusion of social media IDs in visa applications.”
Jaiswal continued, “We believe that every Indian national’s visa application should be assessed based on individual merit. We remain actively engaged with the US on all matters related to mobility, student exchanges, and consular cooperation, to safeguard the interests and rights of Indian citizens abroad.”
New US Guidelines Spark Debate
The revised guidelines, first posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the US Embassy in India, have quickly gained attention. The embassy wrote:
“On the DS-160 visa application form, applicants must include a list of any social media identities or handles they have used over the last five years. Before signing and submitting, applicants attest that the information on their visa application is accurate and truthful.”
The message also came with a warning: failure to disclose social media activity—or deliberately omitting past accounts—could lead to a visa denial or even future ineligibility for US visas.
Moreover, the embassy issued another announcement highlighting that the United States has resumed student visa processing. As part of the new protocol, applicants are requested to set their social media accounts to “public” for background verification and identity checks under US immigration laws.
“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 the vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,” the post read.
Security vs. Privacy: A Fine Balance
The US government has clarified that these new steps are designed to “enhance national security and ensure the integrity of the visa application process.” According to US immigration officials, monitoring applicants’ digital activity is a preventive measure to help detect fraudulent applications and identify potential security risks.
However, this policy has raised concerns among privacy advocates and student communities. Critics argue that turning personal social media profiles public may infringe on individual privacy rights and might discourage open expression online—especially when cultural and political contexts vary significantly between countries.
Why It Matters for Indian Students
Every year, tens of thousands of Indian students apply to US universities, making India one of the largest sources of international students in the United States. With this new rule, students must now think carefully about their online presence and how it might be interpreted during a visa review.
Indian authorities have emphasized that these additional layers of scrutiny should not disadvantage students who have worked hard to gain academic admissions. “It is critical that genuine students are not denied opportunities due to misinterpretation of their social media activity,” said an official familiar with the matter.
Looking Ahead
While this policy is already in effect, it is likely to spark further dialogue between the Indian and US governments, especially around issues of data privacy, digital rights, and student mobility. In the meantime, Indian students are being advised to review their social media accounts carefully, ensure transparency in their applications, and stay updated on evolving visa rules.
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