In a significant policy shift, the US Embassy in India has mandated all student visa applicants to make their social media profiles public.

This directive applies to individuals applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas and is part of the Trump administration’s broader move to tighten immigration controls and strengthen national security.

Visa officers will now thoroughly review applicants' activities on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok to assess eligibility.

Content critical of the US government or American institutions may impact visa approval.

Officials argue that analyzing online activity is crucial to preventing potential threats.

This development comes shortly after the US State Department resumed processing student visas following a temporary suspension.

Since 2019, visa applicants have been required to submit their social media identifiers, but this new step significantly expands the level of digital scrutiny, especially targeting international students seeking entry into the US.