The US Embassy in India on Saturday issued a fresh advisory to visa holders, stating that American visa screening does not end after a visa is granted.
In a post on X, the US Embassy in India said, “US 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 advisory underscores the United States’ ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with its immigration laws and reinforces that visa holders must strictly adhere to all legal requirements during their stay.
Earlier, on June 28, the US Embassy in India stated on X, “Those who are in the United States illegally or commit visa fraud will be held responsible. If you break U.S. law, you will be punished with significant criminal penalties.”
On June 26, the embassy further noted, “Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the past five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.”
In a move aimed at strengthening visa screening procedures, the United States announced on June 23 that, effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa must adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate the necessary vetting process to establish their identity and admissibility under U.S. law.
Sharing the announcement on X, the official handle of the U.S. Embassy in India (@USAndIndia) wrote: “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States.”
The post also reiterated that, since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on both immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms.
“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the post added.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has also unveiled a sweeping new travel ban for 2025, barring nationals from 12 countries entirely and partially limiting visa access for citizens of seven others.
The move prioritizes national security and targets countries considered high-risk for security loopholes and terrorism concerns. Most of the affected nations are reportedly located in the Middle East and Africa.
Citizens from the 12 countries now face a total ban on both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including those for tourism, education, and employment. Simultaneously, nationals of the seven other countries are subject to partial restrictions, involving tighter screening or limited visa categories.
Amid growing concern in South Asia, the United States has clarified that India is not on the list. Visa processing for Indian nationals continues across all categories, including B1/B2 tourist visas, H1B work permits, and F1 student visas.
However, Indian applicants still face long delays due to high demand and administrative backlogs. Most US consulates in India are currently booking interview slots 10 to 12 months in advance.
So, while India remains unaffected by the new travel ban, prolonged processing times may still impact travel plans, educational pursuits, and employment opportunities for many.