Indian Students in US Urged to Maintain Low Social Media Profile

Indian students heading to the United States 🇺🇸, and those already on campus, are being urged to keep a low online profile and follow strict social media rules as new vetting steps take effect this summer. From June 2025, the US Embassy in India told all F, M, and J visa applicants to make their social media accounts public, while consular officers now review five years of usernames and activity as part of the DS-160 application. The message arrives amid a wave of visa revocations in August and an enforcement push that reaches far beyond routine background checks. University advisors, lawyers, and parents say the change has real-world effects: what a student posts, likes, or shares could influence whether they get a visa, keep it, or are sent home mid-degree.

What the new guidance requires

• The embassy says the rule applies to new and renewal cases and is “effective immediately.”
• Applicants must disclose all social media platforms used in the last five years and provide the usernames/handles on the DS-160.
• Consular teams review Public Social Media activity (posts, comments, likes, shares, reactions) to:
  • verify identity, and
  • check for signs of inadmissibility (e.g., anti‑US posts, support for terrorism, involvement in certain protests).
• The embassy’s instruction explicitly asks applicants to adjust privacy settings to public to “facilitate the vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law.”

Important: Keeping accounts private is not an option during the visa process under this guidance, and deletion of posts can itself raise red flags.

Why students and families should care

• The State Department revoked more than 6,000 international student visas in August 2025; roughly 4,000 of those reportedly involved alleged support for terrorism or participation in campus protests (including those linked to Palestine).
• Indian nationals make up about 30% of international students in the US, so the policy has broad potential impact on Indian applicants and current students.
• Revocation can happen for students already in the US, even if they remain compliant with coursework, SEVIS reporting, and funding rules.

Practical impact on students, universities, and families

• Students may face:
  • Loss of status
  • Emergency departure from the US
  • Long-term damage to future visa chances
• Universities may face:
  • Loss of tuition revenue
  • Increased legal and student-support costs
• Family members’ social media can be reviewed as part of identity checks; relatives are advised to avoid political content that references the student or their US plans.

What consular officers look for

• Patterns over one-off posts: repeated endorsements of extremist content, praise for violence, or messages read as support for terrorism.
• Activity across major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and others.
• Even small interactions—likes, emoji reactions, memes—can be interpreted as meaningful.
• Omission or refusal to provide social media details can lead to immediate denial and possible future ineligibility.

Fees, timelines, and logistics

• Standard nonimmigrant visa application fee: $185
• New $250 Visa Integrity Fee starts January 1, 2026
• Additional fees: $24 I-94 fee, plus any category-specific charges
• Application timing:
  • Applications can be filed up to 365 days before program start date
  • Early filing is recommended to allow time for social media review or additional processing (e.g., 221(g) cases)

Clear, practical steps students should take

1. Follow the embassy instruction:
   • Set accounts to public during the visa process.
2. Keep content neutral and non-political:
   • Avoid posting, liking, or sharing material tied to violence, hate, or extremist causes.
3. Maintain consistent identity information:
   • Keep your name, profile photo, and bio consistent across platforms to simplify identity checks.
4. Recordkeeping:
   • Save screenshots of posts you might need to explain.
   • Keep transcripts, enrollment proofs, funding evidence, and employment permissions handy.
   • Monitor your SEVIS portal and reply quickly to DSO requests.
5. If contacted by immigration officers:
   • Notify your Designated School Official (DSO) and seek legal advice before responding.

Counselors’ and lawyers’ further tips

• Avoid political posts and protest content during the visa process and while on a student visa.
• Turn off comments, avoid heated threads, and decline to join groups that share extreme messages.
• Document any interactions with immigration officials and keep copies of all forms.
• If you receive a Notice of Intent to Revoke or any consulate letter, act quickly and seek legal help.

Questions students commonly ask

• “Should I delete old posts?”
  • Deleting right before an interview can look suspicious. Lawyers warn deletion may raise red flags.
• “What about private messages?”
  • Guidance warns private messages could be reviewed if accessed lawfully in security checks.
• “Is attending a peaceful protest risky?”
  • Advisors generally recommend avoiding protest involvement during the visa process and while on a student visa—especially protests tied to violence or groups flagged by US authorities.

Family and dependents

• J visa holders and dependents, and M visa applicants for vocational programs, are covered by the same social media rules.
• Parents and relatives who post about the student or their travel may unintentionally create reviewable content. Advisors recommend family members avoid political posts that mention the student or their US plans.

Useful links and records to keep updated

• DS-160 (online nonimmigrant visa application): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html
• I-94 record (status and authorized stay): https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
• General US visa guidance: https://usvisas.state.gov
• Embassy updates: US Embassy in India posts via X @USAndIndia

Examples and everyday scenarios

• Friend tags you in a protest video: Remove the tag and avoid resharing.
• Old joke about weapons: Consider how it might read today; do not try to hide it right before an interview.
• Relative posts political content mentioning your travel: Ask them to remove it politely.
• Unknown account sends extremist content: Do not engage; block and report.

Broader debate and outlook

• Officials in Washington defend the checks as national security measures designed to block threats before entry.
• Critics say social media is easily misleading, out of context, and prone to bias—especially across languages and cultures.
• Policy watchers expect tight screening to continue, given the political focus and large federal spending on immigration enforcement (discussions have cited estimates near $170 billion for border and security budgets).

Final practical checklist (what to do now)

• Keep your social media public as required, but keep it neutral.
• Avoid political and protest content while applying and while on a visa.
• Tell the full truth on the DS-160, including every handle used in the last five years.
• Keep SEVIS, I-94, and school records accurate and accessible.
• Seek help early—DSO, campus legal office, and immigration counsel—if anything feels wrong.

The policy is strict and currently in force. While diplomatic discussions and advocacy for clearer rules continue, applicants must work with the rules as written. Those who file honest forms, maintain neutral public profiles, keep tidy records, and respond promptly to officials stand the best chance of reaching campus on time and staying through graduation.

Key takeaway: a degree in the US is a significant family and personal investment—one post should not put that at risk. Take the new vetting seriously, and use the resources your university and legal counsel provide.