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 report.
The 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 NDTV.
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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 report.
The 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 report.
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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 NDTV.
The 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 report.
To verify your identity, background, and ensure you pose no security risk. It’s part of an enhanced screening process.
Do I really have to make all my accounts public?
Yes, 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.
"Reddit Account Triggered 221(g) Despite Being Public and Containing No Offensive Content"
byu/HoneyBee2029 inusvisascheduling
Reddit Account Not Listed on DS-160
The 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 report.The 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 NDTV.
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Reddit Profile Was Public, Still Flagged
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 report.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 report.
Concern Over Technical Glitches
The 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 report.The 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 report.
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New US Visa Requirement for Public Social Media
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 report.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 NDTV.
The 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 report.
Social Media Vetting Isn’t New, But It’s Getting Stricter
Despite 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 NDTV.FAQs
Why does the US want to see my social media profiles?To verify your identity, background, and ensure you pose no security risk. It’s part of an enhanced screening process.
Do I really have to make all my accounts public?
Yes, 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.
