US Student Visa Applicants Required to Share Social Media Accounts

The US State Department has announced a new rule requiring students applying for F, M, and J visas to share their social media handles from the past five years. This regulation aims to enhance security checks by reviewing applicants' online activities for any potential threats. With the implementation set for June 25, students must ensure their accounts are public and review their past posts for any inappropriate content. Failure to comply could lead to visa denial or future entry issues. This policy is expected to significantly impact the millions of students seeking education in the US each year.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 24, 2025, 20:03 IST

New Social Media Requirement for US Student Visas

The US State Department has introduced a new regulation mandating that students applying for F, M, and J visas must disclose their social media handles from the past five years. This requirement encompasses around 20 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit, and others. Applicants are required to set their privacy settings to 'public' for all these accounts.

The aim of this policy is to conduct thorough background checks on applicants to ensure they do not pose a security risk to the United States. Officials will scrutinize the social media activity of applicants to identify any anti-American sentiments, affiliations with terrorist organizations, antisemitic content, or extremist behavior.

This guideline was revealed on June 18, 2025, and is set to take effect on June 25. Until the implementation is complete, US embassies will not schedule new interview appointments for student visas.

Requirements for Students:

When completing the visa application form (DS-160 or DS-260), applicants must select their social media platforms and provide all associated usernames.

All account settings must be made public.

Applicants should review their previous posts and remove or hide any content that could be deemed provocative or offensive.

Consequences of Non-Compliance:

If an applicant intentionally conceals information, maintains a 'private' account, or submits false details, their intentions may be questioned, potentially resulting in visa denial or future entry ineligibility to the US.

Experts suggest that students will need to exercise greater caution regarding their online presence and ensure complete transparency during the visa application process, as millions seek education in the US annually, and this new policy could significantly impact their applications.