While those who already have interview appointments are seeing no change in processing times, a backlog is growing for new applicants. The US government has announced plans to lift the pause, but students in India are still waiting for fresh interview slots to open up.
Adding to the pressure is the intensified enforcement of a policy requiring applicants to declare all social media handles used in the past five years. Though the rule has been in place since 2019, Kumar noted, “This is the first time they have asked students to change their profile settings to public and declare all the social media handles. It looks like the US government is very serious about implementing this policy now.”According to Kumar, visa officers are scrutinising applicants’ online behaviour to detect potential fraud, profile inconsistencies, or any content seen as a threat to national security. “Students should be very careful about their posts, comments, likes, and even things like profile names, which are going to be scrutinised for antisemitism, anti-US sentiment, hateful, politically motivated, or threatening material,” he said.
Importantly, this monitoring doesn’t end once a visa is granted. Students may be questioned at US ports of entry and even during their time in the country. “Even if you go to the US, you have to be very careful about what you’re posting. Some of the questions we know are being asked include: What is your view about the Israel-Iran war? What do you think about America as a country?” Kumar shared.
The tougher stance extends beyond student visas, applying also to long-term non-immigrant categories like H-1B and L1. For those who face rejection, the only recourse is to reapply. “When the US Consulate rejects a visa, they typically provide a reason. Students need to revisit their application, understand the reason, and take corrective steps before applying again,” Kumar advised.
Asked whether students should consider other countries, Kumar acknowledged that while some are exploring alternatives like the UK, Australia, or Canada, many remain committed to studying in the US. “There are students who are very clear that they only want to go to the US because of the quality of education. They are even willing to defer their intake by a year if needed,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Kumar maintains that the US remains a viable destination. “We are not advising anyone not to go to the US. A large number of Indian students are already studying there, and things are absolutely fine—as long as they follow the rules.”
His key message for applicants: be honest, be cautious online, and be prepared for additional scrutiny.
Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview.
Q: How has this changed the time taken for processing visa applications for students?
Kumar: If you talk about India, I would say currently the visa applications are in a pause mode. What I mean is that the students who have not yet got visa interview slots are currently unable to proceed, as the slots have not been opened. Until that happens, the processing will not begin.
For students who have already submitted their visa applications and received interview slots, the time taken has not changed. It is just what it always used to be, which for US is pretty good.But if a student has not yet received a visa interview slot, then they are waiting for quite some time. I think it’s been more than three weeks since the pause was initiated, and we are still waiting for the government to lift it. Although the US government has announced that they are going to lift it, in India, we have still not seen the visa interview slots open up.
Q: When it comes to the social media vetting policy, over the last two to three weeks we’ve seen different updates—one says to switch your privacy setting from private to public, and another says to give all your social media information and handles from across platforms over the last five years to the US government. If there is anything objectionable, your visa application can be rejected. Is there any clarity on the kind of content a prospective applicant should not be posting on social media?
Kumar: One interesting thing to note is that this requirement is not new. Actually, if you look at the DS-160 form, which is the visa application form, the requirement to declare your social media handles has been there since 2019. But it is only now that it looks like the US government is very serious about implementing this policy. This is the first time they have asked students to change their profile settings to public and declare all the social media handles they have used in the last five years. What we understand is that the US Consulate is looking for evidence that could relate to potential fraud, any inconsistency in the applicant’s profile, and most importantly, any post, comment, or like that could be considered a potential threat to national security. So, students should be very careful about their posts, comments, likes, and even things like profile names, which are going to be scrutinised for antisemitism, anti-US sentiment, hateful, politically motivated, or threatening material.
Q: I would also like to ask you, when it comes to the vetting of social media accounts—as you’re saying, it’s happening more aggressively now—and there could be cases where you may be rejected. The advisory also says that even after you get your visa, you will be continuously monitored. So even if you go to the US, you have to be very careful about what you’re posting?
Kumar: Absolutely, that is correct. Just because a student has received a visa successfully, it doesn’t mean that the process has ended. Even during their entire course of study—from the time they go to the US, for example, at the port of entry—the same questions could be asked. They may still want to see your social media profiles, and some questions could still be asked. We know for a fact that some of the questions being asked include: What is the student’s view about the Israel-Iran war? What do they think about America as a country? These questions are being asked. So, during the entire period the student is in the US, they need to be very careful about what they are posting, commenting on, or liking—what kind of posts, etc. The US government is very clear that they will not allow anything that goes against their declared national policy.
Q: Does this apply only to J, F, and M visas, which are either exchange programmes or student visas, or does it apply to all categories?
Kumar: It also applies to, I would say, long-term non-immigrant categories—like H-1B, L1-type visas. So, it’s not only limited to student visas.
Q: Does the student have any recourse in case the visa is rejected? Because the advisory from the US government also says that this is a privilege, not a right.
Kumar: If rejected, the only thing a student can do is reapply. When the US Consulate rejects a visa, they typically provide a reason for the rejection. So, I think students need to revisit their visa application, check exactly what reason has been mentioned, and maybe take corrective action before reapplying. That is the only option.
As you rightly said, the US government is very clear that it’s a privilege, not a right. So, I would advise students to be careful and try to do it right the first time. But in case you unfortunately get your visa rejected, do take another look at your profile, understand the reasons mentioned, take corrective steps, and then reapply.
Q: Would you now advise students who are looking to go to the US to possibly consider other locations as well, considering the pause on fresh interviews, the extensive social media vetting, and the overall uncertainty in the visa process in India?
Kumar: Well, this again frankly depends on the students. We actually engage with thousands of students, and there are many who are very clear that they only want to go to the US because of the quality of education. We all know that the US has world-class institutions. So, there are students who are very determined to go to the US only, and they are even willing to defer their intake by one year if needed, if they don’t get the visa on time.
But yes, there is a certain category of students who have started considering other destinations—like the UK, Australia, or Canada. So, it depends on the student. Some are very clear about the US, while others are open to looking at other destinations, considering those also have world-class institutions. We see students in both categories.
We are not advising anyone not to go to the US, because there is still a large number of students going there, and things are fine. As you know, a very large number of Indian students are currently studying in the US, and things are absolutely fine with them—as long as students are not indulging in any activity that the US government considers to be against the rules and regulations of their visa. I think things are fine.
