Latest news with #F-1
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Why did you hide Reddit account? Indian student faces US visa scrutiny
When a student from Maharashtra applying for a US F-1 visa walked in for her interview, she didn't expect her Reddit activity to come under scrutiny. She listed all other social media accounts, barring Reddit, where users mostly post anonymously. The student, who is facing visa scrutiny for not sharing her Reddit account, shared her experience with the consular officials – on online as HoneyBee2029, the Maharashtra-based applicant said she was issued a 221(g) slip, which suspended the visa process temporarily till disclosure of full officer delayed the visa process and flagged her Reddit account, even though it was public and had no objectionable content. "If you have an interview coming up, then yes. Name all, literally all your social media handles you've created in the last 5 years. I've been on hold due to a petty Reddit account which I never used. So don't risk it. They definitely have AI assistance to track all your digital footprints," the Reddit user a Reddit post recounting the experience, the student said the visa officer questioned why the Reddit handle hadn't been included in the DS-160 student maintained that her profile was open and clean, but the officer claimed the account "was not visible" during an internal the end of the interview, the officer issued the 221(g) form, asking the student to ensure that all social media handles were made public.'She mentioned that the account was not visible while it was an open account, and at the end of the interview, issued me a 221(g) slip requesting that I make all my social media handles public,' the student wrote, seeking advice on how to proceed with the users responded to the post, pointing out that linking social media profiles might have made it easier for the consular office to locate the person noted, "Mate why are you posting your full name here? A google search shows your Reddit account. I think just wait for a response at this point and go from there.""If you don't need this Reddit account, you might as well close this one and create one later, after the interview, and you land in the US," suggested another REDDIT IS UNDER SCANNER?A 221(g) form does not mean a visa rejection, it indicates the officer needs more information before making a final applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant US visas, which are meant for students, have been ordered to make their social media profiles per the US State Department, this will allow thorough vetting of added that the US visa is "a privilege, not a right", and its screening does not stop after a visa has been issued, and authorities may revoke it if one breaks the law."Effective immediately, 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," the US Embassy said in a notification on June provision for social media vetting for US visa applicants has been in place since 2019. However, the new announcements signal that foreign nationals will be subjected to an increased level of scrutiny. The enhanced surveillance comes amid President Trump's crackdown on immigration, leading to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids on illegal Maharashtra student's case is an example of how strict the vetting is, and that all social media accounts need to be listed to avoid further scrutiny.- Ends advertisement
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Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
US delays F-1 visa over Reddit handle: What Indian applicants must know
An Indian F-1 visa applicant recently shared that their application was put on hold after they failed to list their Reddit handle on the DS-160 form, even though the account was public and contained no objectionable posts. Posting on a visa-related subreddit, the applicant said, 'I had my F-1 visa interview recently. During the interview, the visa officer raised a concern about my Reddit account, which I had not listed on my DS-160 form.' The user said the account was set to public and did not contain any inappropriate content. 'She mentioned that the account was not visible even though it was set to public, and at the end of the interview, she issued me a 221(g) slip requesting that I make all my social media handles public,' the post read. A 221(g) slip means the visa application is pending and not outright rejected. Applicants are required to submit additional documents or meet other requirements before a decision is made. However, the rule now is clear: The US government wants visa applicants to reveal their social media handles in their applications. Skip this, and your visa could be delayed or denied altogether. Since 2020, US visa applicants have had to disclose all usernames they have used in the past five years on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Reddit. These must be listed on the DS-160 form, and the US embassy now actively checks whether such accounts are publicly visible and accessible. In a recent advisory, the US Embassy in India posted on X, Social media details must be listed fully and truthfully, and any omission could result in a visa denial or future ineligibility." What Indian students must remember Experts say the visa process is now closely tied to what an applicant shares, not just in the interview but across digital platforms. 'A key reason behind the success of applicants is the authenticity of the application and the intent that they are able to communicate to the visa officers,' Piyush Kumar, regional director (South Asia, Canada and Latin America) at IDP Education told Business Standard. 'Consistency and transparency help establish credibility. Applicants must ensure that the visa application forms are filled out accurately and reflect the same information shared during the interview and on their social media platforms,' he added. What students should do: * Only list social media handles that belong to you and are active or traceable * Ensure accounts are publicly accessible with no hidden posts * Don't delete or alter social media accounts after submitting your DS-160 * Inactivity is acceptable, but visibility is key If issued a 221(g) slip * Read the officer's instructions carefully * Make the required social media accounts public or submit documents as requested * Respond promptly using the channel given—email, portal or direct submission Note that 221(g) is not a rejection; it indicates further administrative review All applicants for US immigrant and non-immigrant visas are required to submit their social media identifiers, except those applying under diplomatic or official categories such as A, C-2, C-3 (excluding personal staff), G-1 through G-4, and NATO visas. This means listing every username or handle used on specified platforms in the past five years. Even accounts that are no longer active or in regular use must be included, and if an applicant has had multiple accounts on the same platform, each one must be listed separately. The form does not ask for passwords—only the publicly visible identifiers. Applicants with no social media can truthfully mark 'None.' However, any false declaration, omission or inconsistency can be grounds for rejection. What is the US government doing with this data? The stated purpose is to verify applicant identity and assess eligibility. Officers use this information to spot red flags such as misrepresentation or association with groups or views seen as unlawful under US law. The checks come amid increased campus surveillance in the US, especially related to pro-Palestinian protests and growing opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. Student visa approvals slow in 2025 The F-1 visa season in 2025 has opened on a slower note. Between March and May, only 9,906 F-1 visas were issued to Indian students, compared to 13,478 during the same period in 2024 and 14,987 in 2023. This marks a 27 per cent year-on-year drop. The fall in numbers coincides with tighter scrutiny under the second Trump administration. Some Indian students have reported visa revocations, with alleged links to campus protests or interactions with police. Mary Gogoi, head of admissions at eduVelocity Global, told Business Standard, 'Trump administration imposed strict visa rules, proposed ending the OPT (Optional Practical Training) programme, and created a sense of uncertainty among international students.' She added, 'The fear of what might come has led to hesitation and delayed decision-making, particularly among middle-class applicants.'
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
Visa Granted, But You're Still Being Watched: US Warns Indians Of Immediate Deportation For Any Violation
New Delhi: The U.S. Embassy in India has warned visa holders and applicants that receiving a visa is no shield from deportation. In a message shared on social media, the embassy said that American authorities continue to monitor individuals even after a visa has been granted and that anyone found violating U.S. laws or immigration rules could face immediate visa revocation and deportation. 'U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules – and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don't,' the embassy posted on X (formerly Twitter). U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules – and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don't. — U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) July 12, 2025 The embassy made it clear that visa holders are under routine surveillance. Students on F-1 visas. Techies on H-1Bs. Visitors. Tourists. Everyone. The warning comes amid a wave of tightening visa controls and intensified monitoring mechanisms under new screening protocols. And officials did not need to cite examples. Past cases have shown that people caught working off-campus without permission, misrepresenting social media activity or violating the terms of academic enrollment have faced detention, revoked visas and removal orders. Social Media Too Is Being Watched The embassy is deep-diving into the internet. In an earlier post, it warned, 'Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.' Applicants now must list every social media handle used in the last five years on the DS-160 form — from LinkedIn and Facebook to X and Instagram. And that is not only for transparency, but for continuous tracking. In fact, as per updated guidance issued just weeks ago, applicants for student and cultural exchange visas (F, M, J) are now required to make their social media profiles public. The aim? Easier vetting. 'Effective immediately, 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,' the embassy declared. Effective immediately, 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… — State_SCA (@State_SCA) July 15, 2025 Why This Matters for Indian Visa Holders The message could not be clearer – every move counts. The days of lax oversight are gone. From attending your college classes to switching employers and from tweeting political views to maintaining a clean immigration record, every action could make or break your stay. A technical violation, an unreported course change or a simple omission in paperwork can now lead to irreversible consequences. This crackdown comes against a wider backdrop. U.S. immigration agencies are ramping up vetting not only at the application stage, but long after entry. With growing concerns around visa fraud, overstays and unreported employment, especially in countries like India, which sends one of the highest numbers of visa applicants, Washington is turning up the heat. What You Need to Know Now Visa approval is not the finish line. It is the beginning of long-term monitoring. Any violation of terms, including unauthorised work, dropping out of school or overstaying, can result in visa revocation and deportation. Social media presence is under strict review. Every handle over the past five years must be disclosed. Privacy settings must be public for some visa categories. All status changes must be legally reported and updated through the appropriate immigration channels.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
No Reddit, no visa? Indian's US entry blocked after failing to share account details
An Indian student faced US visa issues. The student did not list their Reddit account on the DS-160 form. US authorities flagged this omission. The student's public Reddit profile was seemingly inaccessible. This raised concerns about technical glitches. New rules require public social media for visa applicants. Increased scrutiny is part of enhanced screening. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Reddit Account Not Listed on DS-160 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Reddit Profile Was Public, Still Flagged Concern Over Technical Glitches New US Visa Requirement for Public Social Media Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Social Media Vetting Isn't New, But It's Getting Stricter FAQs An Indian student looking to study in the United States had discovered their visa process got blocked due to an unexpected reason, not due to academic credentials or financial records, but because of Reddit, as per a student described in a visa-related subreddit how they were denied an F-1 visa after not including their Reddit account on the DS-160 form, which now asks for all social media handles, according to an NDTV Reddit user wrote that, "I had my F-1 visa interview recently. During the interview, the visa officer raised a concern about my Reddit account, which I had not listed on my DS-160 form," as quoted by READ: Tomorrowland fire shock: Main stage engulfed in flames days before start of massive festival - what we know The account was public and didn't have anything offensive, as per the student. Nevertheless, the officer served a 221(g) form, a notice of temporary refusal, and requested the applicant to make all their social media handles public for re-evaluation, according to the student shared that, "She mentioned that the account was not visible while was an open account, and at the end of the interview, issued me a 221(g) slip requesting that I make all my social media handles public," as quoted in the NDTV larger issue for the candidate was that while their Reddit account was already public, it seemed inaccessible at the time of the interview to the officer, and this stoked concerns about technological issues that could end up resulting in a permanent denial, as per the NDTV user pointed out that, "My concern is that my account seemed private to her while it was already public. What if it's a technical issue which recurs while she rechecks my handle which may lead to ultimate denial?," as quoted in the NDTV READ: Israel bombs Syria after Iran strike, are we heading for a World War III - what we know so far This incident occurs just weeks after the US State Department introduced a new requirement that all applicants for F, M, and J visas have their social media pages made public, according to the report. The aim, according to the administration, is to enhance screening and verify the identity of the applicant prior to allowing them in, as per the department has also mentioned that the US visa is "a privilege, not a right", and its screening does not stop after a visa has been issued, and authorities may revoke it if anyone breaks the law, as reported by US Embassy had issued a June 23 statement that, "Effective immediately, 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," as quoted in the NDTV there being provision for social media vetting for US visa applicants since 2019, the new updates are stricter, with foreign nationals being subjected to an increased level of scrutiny, according to the report. The increased surveillance comes due to US president Donald Trump's intense crackdown on immigration, leading to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids on illegal immigrants, as reported by verify your identity, background, and ensure you pose no security risk. It's part of an enhanced screening if you're applying for an F, M, or J visa. The US Embassy now asks all applicants to adjust their privacy settings so profiles are publicly viewable.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Reddit user shares US embassy sent him back over social media account, told: Your account is not ...
A F-1 US visa applicant shared how their US visa application was refused after they failed to reveal their Reddit account information. "I had my F-1 visa interview recently. During the interview, the visa officer raised a concern about my Reddit account, which I had not listed on my DS-160 form," the user wrote in a sub-Reddit post. The user further revealed that while the account was public, she was refused the US visa for not listing all social media accounts in the application form. This comes weeks after the US embassy in India announced a new guideline for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas who will now have to set their social media accounts to public. The US embassy shared this update in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), saying that the change is necessary to "facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law." The move, the embassy said, is aimed at helping U.S. officials verify the identity and eligibility of visa applicants during the security screening process. 'She mentioned that the account was not visible while was an open account, and at the end of the interview, issued me a 221(g) slip requesting that I make all my social media handles public," the user added. What is 221(g) slip by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Get ₹2Cr life cover@ ₹700 p.m. ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Section 221(g) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows a visa officer to put your application on hold if more information is needed or further checks must be done before a final decision can be made. A 221(g) slip is usually issued for reasons such as: Missing documents Need for administrative processing (like background/security checks) The officer needs to review the case more closely Additional clearance from Washington is required Employer or job details need to be verified (for work visas) Boat Nirvana Ivy Pro Review: Flagship audio on a budget AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
