US reiterates visa screening norms for all applicants, requires full disclosure of social media history

The US Embassy in India has reiterated that failure to disclose social media handles on visa applications could lead to denial and possible ineligibility for future visas.In a social media post shared on Thursday, the embassy reminded applicants that omitting this information in the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application form can have serious consequences, noting that “every US visa adjudication is a national security decision.”

Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and… pic.twitter.com/ZiSewKYNbt

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 26, 2025

The DS-160 form includes a dedicated section requiring applicants to list all social media accounts and corresponding usernames or identifiers used in the past five years. Applicants must certify that all details provided are accurate before submitting the application.Reinforcing the same message earlier this week, the embassy said that all individuals applying for F, M, or J non-immigrant visas are now being requested to set their social media privacy settings to “public” to facilitate identity verification and admissibility under US law. These categories cover most international students, academic exchange visitors, and vocational training applicants.

The policy stems from a broader move introduced in 2019, when the US began requiring visa applicants to disclose their social media identifiers as part of enhanced security measures. “We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to national security,” the embassy stated.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement in the US, including a recent crackdown in Los Angeles, and a series of warnings from the embassy discouraging illegal immigration and visa misuse.

On June 19, the US Embassy stressed that a visa is “a privilege, not a right,” noting that authorities can revoke a visa if an individual breaks US laws while in the country. The embassy also warned that using illegal drugs or engaging in unlawful behavior could jeopardise future visa eligibility.

Earlier this month, the US also imposed new visa restrictions targeting foreign officials and others who facilitate mass or illegal migration to the country.