Screening doesn't end at approval: US to deport visa holders who break rules

The US Embassy in India on Saturday warned that visa holders found violating American laws or immigration rules would face deportation, reinforcing a recent wave of stricter immigration enforcement measures under the Trump administration.

“US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued,” the embassy said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

“We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules — and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don’t.”

The warning comes a day after the embassy advised applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas — typically issued to students and exchange visitors — to make their social media accounts “public” to allow for vetting by immigration authorities.

The embassy also cautioned that “falsifying or omitting information” about social media activity could lead to visa denial and even permanent ineligibility.

In a statement issued last month, the embassy stated that a US visa is “a privilege, not a right” and reminded applicants that every visa adjudication is “a national security decision.”

Since 2019, US visa applicants have been required to provide social media identifiers for all platforms used over the previous five years. The embassy said this vetting is essential to establish a person’s identity and admissibility under US law.

The tightening of visa rules aligns with the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration. Previously, the embassy had said those who enter the US illegally would face jail time and deportation, and added that violators of immigration laws could be detained, removed, and barred from future visa applications.

The embassy has released a series of digital posters and advisories in recent weeks amid heightened scrutiny and enforcement surrounding US immigration policy.

- Ends