Archive · 28 Jun 2025
India Urges US to Judge Visas on Merit Amid Social Media Directive
The US government has started asking people applying for certain visas to share their social media usernames.
The Indian government is not happy about this new rule.
They are telling the US that they should look at each person's visa application fairly, based on their individual merits.
The new rule applies to students and exchange visitors who want to come to the US.
People applying for these visas have to list all the social media accounts they have used in the last five years.
The US says this helps them check who people are and decide if they can enter the country.
If you don't share this information, your visa might be rejected.
The US now requires visa applicants to provide social media identifiers.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urges the US to evaluate visa applications based on merit.
The new guidelines apply to F, M, and J non-immigrant visas (student and exchange visitor).
Applicants must disclose social media usernames for the past five years.
Failure to provide information may result in visa denial.
- Who
- The US government and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and visa applicants.
- What
- The US is requiring visa applicants to disclose social media information; India is urging the US to judge applications based on merit.
- When
- New guidelines were released recently.
- Where
- United States of America (USA) and India.
- Why
- The US wants to vet applicants, while India wants fair evaluation of applications.
India
United States
Evaluation of Visa Applications
India
India emphasizes visa applications from its nationals should be evaluated fairly, based on merit.
United States
The US government implemented a new vetting process to establish identity and admissibility.
- Visa Types Affected
- F, M, and J (non-immigrant)
- Required Disclosure
- Social media usernames for the past five years
- Government Involved
- US, India
- MEA Stance
- Applications should be judged on merit.
- Consequence of Non-Compliance
- Visa denial