4 hours ago
Last Updated:June 28, 2025, 11:38 IST
The Ministry of External Affairs urged the US to evaluate Indian visa applications based on merit after new US guidelines require applicants to disclose social media identifiers.
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The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that the US should evaluate visa applications from Indian nationals based on merit, following the release of new guidelines by the US Embassy. The ministry made the remarks on Thursday in response to the US Embassy releasing guidelines requiring visa applicants to provide details of their social media identifiers.
While the government noted that immigration matters pertain to the sovereign functions of a country, it also urged that the visa applications of Indians be judged based on merit.
“Visa and immigration matters pertain to sovereign functions of any country. But, we have seen the guidelines issued by the US Embassy, providing details of social media identifiers in visa applications," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
The MEA spokesperson assured that India is actively working to protect the interests of its nationals and is engaged in ongoing discussions with the US on consular issues.
New US Visa Rule
Applicants for F, M, or J non-immigrant US visas are now mandated to adjust their social media privacy settings to “public" to facilitate thorough vetting. The F or M category is for student visas, and the J category for exchange visitor visas.
When applying for a US visa, applicants must now disclose all their social media usernames for every platform they’ve used over the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form.
According to the US Embassy, social media vetting is necessary to establish the applicants’ identity and admissibility to the US under law.
Failure to provide required social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.
Visa applicants have been asked to provide “social media identifiers" on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms since 2019, the embassy clarified.
The new guidelines came after US President Donald Trump intensified the immigration crackdown. Immigration laws have been tightened in the US, and those entering the country illegally would face jail time and deportation.
The intensified immigration move has sparked protests in Los Angeles against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
Location :United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world India Reacts To USA's Social Media Directive; Emphasises To Evaluate Visa Applications On Merit
