Heading to the U.S.? Students Now Required to Keep Social Media Public for Entire Visa Duration

Indian students preparing to study in the United States are facing a new requirement this academic year: keeping their social media profiles public throughout the validity of their U.S. visa. This applies to all international students applying under the F, M, and J visa categories.

In a recent update, a spokesperson from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi stated,

“All student and exchange visitor visa applicants are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all personal social media profiles to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish the applicant’s admissibility to the United States.”

Ongoing Security Vetting Beyond Visa Issuance
The U.S. government clarified that security checks don’t end once a visa is approved. Vetting will continue throughout the entire visa duration.

“Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa,” the embassy spokesperson added.

This requirement builds on a 2019 policy that mandated all visa applicants to disclose their social media handles. However, recent developments have placed greater emphasis on visibility, citing concerns over national security and public safety.

Visa Disruptions and Digital Scrutiny
Earlier this year, in May, the U.S. temporarily paused student visa interview appointments in response to campus protests linked to the conflict in Gaza. This caused widespread concern among Indian students, many of whom began cleaning up their digital profiles to avoid potential rejections.

Visa interviews resumed on June 18. At that time, the U.S. State Department reaffirmed its stance that a visa is a “privilege, not a right”, and reiterated that comprehensive background checks—including digital vetting—will be a standard part of the application process.

Indian Students Still Leading International Enrolments
Despite the challenges, Indian students continue to make up the largest international student group in the U.S. In the 2023–24 academic year, over 330,000 Indian students were enrolled in American institutions. In FY 2024, the U.S. issued more than 400,000 F-1 visas, according to State Department data.

As the new academic year approaches, students are advised to review their online presence carefully and ensure their social media profiles remain publicly visible for the full duration of their U.S. stay.

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