US Embassy In India Warns Of 'Visa Denial' Over Missing Social Media Details; Says Handles Used In Past 5 Years Must Be Listed

New Delhi: The US Embassy in India, on Thursday, June 26, issued a stark warning to Indian visa applicants, clearly stating that leaving out social media information on visa forms could lead to denial and even future ineligibility for US visas.

The advisory, shared on the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, comes as part of heightened vetting procedures aimed at verifying applicant identities.

“Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the embassy said. It reminded applicants that all usernames or handles used on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube in the past five years must be listed on the DS-160 visa application form, even if those accounts are no longer active.

Have a look at guidelines issued by the US embassy here:

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Social Media Transparency Now Mandatory

The DS-160 form, required for most US non-immigrant visas, includes a section specifically requesting social media history. “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,” the embassy wrote. Applicants must also certify that all details provided are true and accurate before signing and submitting the form.

This update forms part of the broader security measures introduced by the US State Department in recent years. The goal is to ensure thorough identity checks and prevent security risks, especially in light of the growing importance of digital footprints in background checks.

New Rule for Student and Exchange Visa Holders

In a separate but related move, the embassy announced a new requirement for all applicants of F, M, and J non-immigrant visas, typically granted to students and exchange visitors. Effective immediately, these individuals must set all their social media accounts to public.

The embassy added, “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 public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law.”