India Calls for Fairness as US Tightens Student Visa Screening
2 Min Read
India has urged the United States to ensure fair treatment of Indian nationals following Washington’s recent directive to intensify vetting procedures for student visa applicants. The new rules require consular officers to review applicants’ social media presence and digital footprint for signs of hostility towards US values or national security risks.
The move comes just after the US resumed student visa interviews on 18 June, following a nearly month-long pause. Under the revised guidelines, officers must also scrutinise applicants for any online content that may indicate support for terrorism or political activism that could extend into US territory.
In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasised the importance of merit-based evaluations. “It is our belief that all visa applications of Indian nationals should be treated on the basis of merit,” said spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a press briefing. He added that India remains in active dialogue with the US to ensure the legitimate interests of its citizens are safeguarded.
The new measures could significantly affect international applicants from India and China—the two largest contributors to the US international student population. According to the Open Doors Report 2023–24, over 331,000 Indian students were enrolled in US institutions. However, new FY 2025 data reveals a sharp decline in F-1 visa issuances from both countries.
The US Embassy in India reiterated the mandatory requirement for visa applicants to disclose all social media handles from the past five years on the DS-160 form. “Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” it warned on social media.
Immigration experts are concerned the rules may cause substantial processing delays. “If a consular officer has to vet social media for 50 applicants a day, how can this scale?” said US immigration lawyer James Hollis.
As digital scrutiny tightens, India continues to call for balanced procedures that uphold both national security and international academic mobility.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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