A significant move has been carried out by the U.S. government in their visa policy that mandated all the international applicants of the F, M, J non-immigrant visas that they should set their social media accounts to public. This tactical step is to ensure the national security of the U.S. by stepping up the screening and vetting measures during the visa process. The State Department of the U.S. has confirmed this directive and they have emphasised a statement that a visa is “a privilege, not a right”.
A New U.S. Visa Rule
Under these new guidelines for the non-immigrant visas, a close examination of the public activity of the applicant and their diverse social media platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and others will be observed by the Embassy Personnels. This examination will also help to find whether the activity of any individual reflects any views of an extremist or any unlawful activity or threats to the U.S. government and the value of their Policy. According to the information underpinned by the officials, the applicants will be under watch even after their successful entry into the country and their online behaviour will be observed continuously to assure the transparency.
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The visa policy enforced by the Department of State, will be applicable not only to the new applicants but also to those with pending and ongoing applications of the F, M, J visas. The students who wish to kick off their career or education in the U.S. are advised to review their social media presence and are instructed to adjust their privacy settings accordingly. Because there are chances for the cancellation of the applicant’s visa, if they find any deceptive social media activity. So, this change is expected to be a choking one for the students of this era.
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 21, 2025
Also, this policy has triggered more concern among the international students who fear that this could even deter their dream by invading into the privacy of an individual. Yet, the U.S. government authorities highlight that this policy is solely for national security and public safety.
