‘Treat on benefit’: MEA flags concerns over new social media rules for US visa; says remain engaged with Washington | India News

NEW DELHI: The ministry of exterior affairs on Thursday stated that the US ought to deal with visa functions of Indian residents on the idea of benefit, after the US embassy issued tips searching for particulars of social media accounts of candidates.While addressing a weekly press convention, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that visa and immigration issues pertain to the sovereign features of any nation, and the federal government stays engaged with the US on all mobility and consular points.“Visa and immigration matters pertain to the sovereign functions of any country. But we have seen the guidelines issued by the US embassy, requiring the provision of social media identifiers in visa applications,” Jaiswal stated.“But it is our belief that all visa applications of Indian nationals should be treated on the basis of merit. We remain engaged with the US side on all mobility and consular issues to ensure that the legitimate interests of Indian nationals are safeguarded,” he added.Earlier within the day, the US embassy in India requested visa candidates to reveal all social media usernames and handles from the previous 5 years for background checks.“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the last 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,” the embassy stated in a social media publish on X.“Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” it added.This comes amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to “enhance security and ensure the integrity” of the visa course of.Earlier this week, because the US state division resumed processing scholar visa functions, the US embassy requested all scholar visa candidates to make their social media accounts public for background checks.“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 the vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,” the US embassy in India posted on X.