The US Embassy in India announced an important update today, Monday, June 23, 2025, requiring all individuals applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas to set their social media accounts to public.
This measure, effective immediately, is a part of the ongoing vetting processes to verify applicants’ identities and ensure their admissibility to the United States. According to an official statement, it was mentioned that each visa decision is a matter of national security. The announcement was shared on X today.
The Donald Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of social media to screen out potential individuals deemed unfit to enter the country.
The United States has mandated that visa applicants provide social media identifiers on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa forms. This latest directive builds on that policy, leveraging available data to screen for potential security threats amid global security concerns.
Understanding F, M, J vVsas
- F Visa: Issued to academic students pursuing courses at accredited US institutions, such as universities or language programmes.
- M Visa: Granted to vocational or non-academic students enrolled in technical or trade schools.
- J Visa: Designed for exchange visitors, including scholars, researchers, and participants in cultural or training programmes.