What usernames did you employ in your SM handles within the final 5 years? You may have to listing all of them for a US visa
Should you’re planning to check or participate in an change program in the US, get able to open up your digital life. As of a newly enforced coverage, all candidates for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas should now disclose their social media exercise from the previous 5 years.The US Division of State has expanded its vetting necessities, demanding visa candidates listing each username or deal with they’ve used on any social media platform inside that timeframe. This transfer is a part of a broader effort by the US authorities to boost nationwide safety and stop entry of people thought-about threats.A public profile is now a part of the screeningIn an official announcement shared by the US Embassy in India and thru its social media channels, authorities emphasised that candidates are usually not solely required to listing all their social media identifiers, but additionally should modify their account privateness settings to ‘public’. That is meant to permit consular officers to completely look at the applicant’s on-line presence as a part of their background verify.The requirement applies particularly to people making use of for F (tutorial college students), M (vocational college students), and J (change guests). Consular officers will use this data—mixed with private interviews and different paperwork—to evaluate whether or not the applicant meets the requirements for entry into the nation.What should candidates disclose?The data is collected by means of the DS-160, the web nonimmigrant visa software kind. As candidates fill out the shape through the Consular Digital Utility Centre, they’re offered with a drop-down menu itemizing numerous social media platforms. They need to choose every one they’ve used over the past 5 years.As soon as a platform is chosen, the shape prompts for each related identifier: username, deal with, electronic mail handle, or telephone quantity used on that account. If a number of usernames have been used, candidates should click on “Add One other” to supply all entries. Failing to incorporate correct and full data just isn’t a minor oversight—it might result in a visa denial and even make the applicant ineligible for future US visas.Why is the US doing this?This expanded scrutiny stems from the continuing effort by the US authorities to strengthen safety by means of detailed applicant screening. A press launch from the US Division of State referenced the “Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Candidates” and emphasised that each one F, M, and J visa candidates will probably be subjected to a complete vetting course of, together with evaluation of their on-line conduct.Officers reaffirmed the long-standing precept {that a} US visa is a privilege, not a proper, echoing sentiments repeatedly emphasised by President Trump and different senior policymakers.What occurs in the event you depart one thing out?In response to the embassy, candidates certify the accuracy of their software once they signal the DS-160 kind. Any omission—intentional or not—can lead to visa rejection and future ineligibility, a danger the embassy clearly warns in opposition to.The message is unambiguous: in the event you’ve used a social platform within the final 5 years, the US needs to learn about it—and see what you’ve posted. With nationwide safety because the driving concern, social media vetting is now not only a risk; it’s now a required a part of the US visa software course of.
