India Pushes Back on US Social Media Rule for Visas, Calls for Merit-Based Review

India has responded to the United States’ latest visa directive requiring applicants to disclose all social media usernames from the past five years, calling for a more balanced and merit-based approach. The US Embassy in India recently warned that omitting such information on the DS-160 visa form could lead to denial and future ineligibility, citing national security concerns.

 

Key highlights:

 

- The rule applies to all visa categories, including student (F, M) and exchange visitor (J) visas.

- Applicants are also encouraged to make their social media accounts public to aid vetting.

- The US has framed each visa decision as a national security matter, intensifying scrutiny.

- India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) acknowledged the US’s sovereign right to set immigration rules but emphasized that Indian applicants should be judged on merit.

- MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains engaged with the US on mobility and consular issues to protect the interests of Indian nationals.

 

The US has required social media disclosures since 2019, but the latest push comes amid a broader immigration crackdown. The embassy has also reiterated that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, and warned that violations of US law—even after a visa is granted—could lead to revocation.

 

India’s call for fairness reflects growing concerns over privacy, potential bias, and the impact of such policies on students and professionals seeking opportunities abroad.

 

Sources: The Hindu BusinessLine, Business Standard, India Today