The US has announced a new and strict policy for visa applicants
#News Bureau April 10,2025
The US has announced a new and strict policy for visa applicants. It states that if a person’s posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social media platforms support terrorism, violence, or content deemed objectionable by the US government, their visa may be revoked or denied. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the implementation of this policy, saying that the move has been taken to strengthen national security.
According to USCIS, applicants’ social media accounts will now be thoroughly scrutinized during the visa application process. This may include not only public posts, but also comments, shares, and likes. If any content is deemed against US laws or a threat to national interests, the visa application may be rejected, or a previously approved visa may be revoked.
What will be considered objectionable?
Although USCIS has not explicitly released a list of content that will be considered objectionable, experts say that support for terrorist organizations, promotion of violent activities, hate content, or inflammatory statements against the US government may fall under this purview. Apart from this, posts supporting illegal activities such as promotion of drugs or illegal actions will also be under scrutiny.
Every year millions of people from India apply for tourist, student, and work visas to the US. This new policy is especially important for Indian applicants, as the use of social media is widespread in India. Experts have advised that applicants should keep their social media profiles clean and avoid content that may be controversial.
This policy is not entirely new. In 2019, the then Trump administration began asking visa applicants for information on their social media handles. However, now this investigation has been made more stringent, and its scope has been expanded. US officials said the move is part of a series of enhanced security policies introduced after 9/11.
Immigration lawyers warn that even minor inconsistencies or misinterpretations can jeopardise a visa application. For example, being tagged on a friend’s post or inadvertently liking such content can also lead to scrutiny. Therefore, applicants are being advised to regularly check their digital footprint and delete suspicious content.
After the announcement of this policy, many countries have expressed concern that it may curb personal freedom and freedom of expression. Some human rights organizations have called it a violation of privacy. However, US officials say that this policy only targets those who may be a threat to national security.
This new US policy is a significant change for global travelers and visa applicants. Especially for those who are active on social media, it is important that they manage their online activities carefully. This policy will not only make the US immigration process more complicated, but also shows that individual online behavior in the digital age can have a global impact.
