The US Embassy in India on Thursday asked all visa applicants to disclose all social media usernames and handles from the past five years for background checks. The Embassy said that violating this could lead to rejection of visas and ineligibility for future visas.

"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 submit," the Embassy said in a statement on X.

"Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," it added.

The move is part of the Donald Trump Administration's ongoing efforts to "enhance security and ensure the integrity" of the visa process.

Earlier on Monday, days after the US State Department resumed processing of student visa applications, the US Embassy asked all student visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for background checks.

"Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to the public to facilitate the vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law," the US Embassy in India posted on X.

The Trump administration last month ordered all of its consulates worldwide to stop new student visa interviews and applications for exchange visitor visas.

Published By: Gaurav Kumar Published On: Jun 26, 2025