Planning a US trip? What Indian applicants must know about key visa changes
1. Public social media required for student visas (effective from June 23, 2025)
The first major change applies to those applying under student and exchange visitor visa categories, namely F, M, and J visas. Since June 23, the US government requires all such applicants to make their social media accounts public. This means if you're applying for a US student visa, you must not only list all the usernames you've used in the last five years on your visa application form (DS-160), but also ensure that your current profiles are accessible to US consular officers.
The US State Department says this step is part of enhanced digital screening. Officers may now review public content such as posts, likes, comments, and group affiliations. Content that is seen as extremist, violent, antisemitic, or hostile to the US could raise red flags. Even if your past accounts were private, your current settings must be public at the time of application. Applicants are advised not to delete or deactivate their accounts just before applying. Doing so may be interpreted as an attempt to hide information. It's also recommended to keep usernames consistent across platforms to reduce the risk of delays or suspicion.
2. $250 visa integrity fee (effective from October 1,2025)
From 1 October 2025, most Indian citizens applying for a US visa will need to pay an additional $250 (approximately ₹21,500) as a 'visa integrity fee.' This applies to nearly all nonimmigrant visa types, including student, work, and visitor visas.
As reported by Forbes , this fee is part of a new law passed under the Trump administration and targets travellers from countries that are not part of the US visa waiver program. For Indian applicants, this includes: F-1 and F-2 visas (students and dependents)
J-1 and J-2 visas (exchange visitors)
H1-B and H-4 visas (temporary workers and dependents)
B1/B2 visitor visas (business and tourism) This new fee is in addition to existing visa charges such as the machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee, reciprocity fees, and fraud prevention fees. According to estimates, total US visa costs for Indians may now range from $425 to $473, depending on the visa category.The US Department of Homeland Security has indicated that applicants who comply fully with their visa terms, such as leaving the US on time or converting to legal permanent residence, may be eligible for reimbursement. However, no detailed mechanism has yet been announced.
3. Stricter interview waiver rules (effective from September 2, 2025)
The third change relates to visa interviews. Starting 2 September 2025, the US will scale back its interview waiver programme. This means that most applicants will now be required to attend an in-person interview at a US consulate, even if they are renewing a previous visa.Under the revised policy, only certain applicants, such as diplomats and foreign officials, will be automatically exempt. For tourists or business visitors renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, or B1/B2 visa, a waiver may still be possible, but only if: The renewal application is submitted in the applicant's home country
There are no past visa refusals (unless formally resolved or waived)
There is no other known ineligibility Despite meeting these conditions, consular officers still reserve the right to call any applicant for an interview.
What this means for Indian applicants
These updates signal a shift toward more scrutiny and longer processing times. If you're planning to study, work, or visit the US in the coming months, it's important to prepare early: Review your online profiles and keep them consistent
Budget for higher visa costs
Factor in possible delays due to interview requirements
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