List all social media accounts of five years: US issues new guidelines for visa

In yet another guideline for US visa aspirants, the US Embassy in India has announced that the US State Department has cautioned that providing false information about social media activity could lead to visa denial or a potential ban.

In the latest tweet on Thursday US Embassy in India wrote, “Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 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,” it they added.

Recently, a BBC report stated that new applicants will now have to make their social media accounts ‘public’ for ‘enhanced vetting’ by the US government.

The Trump administration has reportedly increased its surveillance on social media by issuing various guidelines in the past months. From detaining foreign students on the basis of their posts to revoking visas, the Trump administration has openly stated it will use social media accounts to vet people visiting or staying in the US.

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