In a significant tightening of visa screening procedures, the United States government has announced that all F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applicants—commonly issued for students, exchange visitors, and vocational trainees—must now set the privacy settings of all personal social media accounts to ‘public’. This new rule, effective immediately, is part of efforts to enhance national security and identity verification.
The U.S. Embassy in India, via its official handle @USAndIndia on X, stated:
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States.“
Since 2019, the US has already required visa applicants to submit social media identifiers as part of the application process. The embassy further emphasized that:
“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose threats to U.S. national security.“
US Announces New 2025 Travel Ban Targeting 19 Nations — India Not Included
In parallel, the Biden administration has announced a new 2025 travel ban, placing:
- 12 countries under a complete visa ban, covering all immigrant and non-immigrant categories.
- 7 countries facing partial restrictions, such as tighter scrutiny or limited visa categories.
The primary justification cited is national security risks, terrorism concerns, and vulnerabilities in information sharing by the affected countries, most of which are located in the Middle East and Africa.
India is not on the list, the US clarified, and visa processing for Indian nationals remains fully operational across all categories including:
- B1/B2 (tourist/business)
- H1B (employment)
- F1 (student visas)
However, Indian applicants are still facing long waiting times, largely due to high demand and processing backlogs. In some cases:
- Interview wait times exceed 10–12 months for B1/B2 and F1 categories in certain consulates.
- Administrative processing delays are also affecting the issuance of work visas like H1B.
Impact on Indian Travelers & Students
While India is unaffected by the new travel ban, the following concerns persist:
- Long consular wait times could disrupt planned study abroad sessions or business trips.
- Additional scrutiny of social media accounts may prolong the vetting process for F, M, J applicants.
- H1B visa processing and lottery system remain unaffected but could face delays post-approval.
Conclusion
This sweeping move reflects Washington’s sharpened focus on tightening immigration vetting, especially for students, exchange visitors, and high-risk regions. While Indians remain exempt from the latest bans, extra caution regarding digital footprints and patience with long processing times will be essential for prospective travelers.