US warns of visa denial, ban over false claims on social media presence

US Warns of Visa Denial for Hiding Social Media Accounts

The US Embassy in India has issued new visa guidelines, warning applicants that failing to disclose their social media activity could lead to visa denial or even a ban. According to the latest advisory, all applicants must provide details of social media accounts used over the past five years.

The update follows the Trump administration’s broader move toward increased surveillance of immigrants through online activity. "Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," the embassy stated on Thursday.

In line with this policy, the US now requires visa seekers to include all relevant social media handles on their application forms. This new vetting process replaces traditional visa interviews in many cases, with a focus on applicants’ online behavior.

The shift comes amid rising scrutiny of digital content. Recently, a 21-year-old Norwegian student claimed he was detained at Newark Airport for having memes of Vice President JD Vance on his phone. He alleged being threatened with a fine or imprisonment for refusing to provide his phone password. While the US authorities denied the meme was the reason for detainment, they cited his self-reported drug use as the cause.

This strict stance is also seen as part of a wider government response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on US college campuses throughout 2024, further intensifying the scrutiny of foreign nationals’ online activities.