India urges fair visa norms as US adds social media checks to rules

India Urges Merit-Based Review as US Tightens Visa Rules with Social Media Checks

India has expressed concern over the United States' newly reinforced visa guidelines that mandate applicants to disclose their social media accounts. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Thursday that all US visa applications from Indian citizens should be evaluated solely on merit.

Responding to the updated rules, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Visa and immigration decisions are sovereign matters. However, we’ve noted the new US Embassy guidelines requiring applicants to submit details of their social media handles."

He reassured that the Indian government is actively engaging with US authorities to safeguard the interests of Indian nationals and is monitoring developments related to consular matters.

What Do the New US Visa Rules Say?

Under the revised policy, individuals applying for non-immigrant visas in the F, M, or J categories — commonly used by students and exchange visitors — must now provide publicly accessible social media profiles for security vetting. They are also required to list all social media usernames used over the past five years in the DS-160 visa application form.

According to the US Embassy, these checks aim to better verify the identity and eligibility of applicants. Failing to comply may result in visa denial and disqualification from future applications.

The embassy clarified that this requirement has existed since 2019 for both immigrant and non-immigrant applicants, but enforcement is being strengthened as part of broader immigration reforms under President Donald Trump's administration.

Protests have erupted in cities like Los Angeles against what critics call overreach by immigration enforcement officers, further fueling debate over privacy and fairness in visa processing.

Despite the ongoing clampdown, India continues to advocate for a fair, transparent, and merit-based visa system that does not disadvantage its citizens based on non-relevant criteria.