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List all social media accounts used in past five years
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New directive warns that incomplete or false disclosure can lead to visa denial or ban
In a significant move affecting visa applicants, the US Embassy in India has announced updated visa guidelines requiring individuals to disclose all social media usernames and handles used in the past five years. The directive underscores that failure to accurately provide this information could result in visa denial or even a ban from future applications, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
The embassy issued the alert via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating:
“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.”
The US now mandates all visa applicants to reveal their complete social media history from the last five years — omission or misinformation may lead to serious consequences
The post further emphasized that applicants must certify the truthfulness and accuracy of their information before submitting the form. Any deliberate omission or false declaration could render them ineligible for a US visa, both now and in the future.
Adding to the scrutiny, a BBC report noted that applicants may also be required to make their social media accounts public as part of an enhanced vetting process. While the move is officially framed as a security measure, privacy advocates have expressed concern about its broader implications.
This latest policy reflects a continued trend that began under the Trump administration, which had introduced several measures to monitor social media activity of foreigners. These included detaining international students based on their posts and, in some cases, revoking valid visas due to online content deemed problematic.
The US government has defended the move as a necessary step for national security, but it also raises questions about data privacy, freedom of expression, and the boundaries of digital surveillance.
Applicants are advised to carefully review their digital footprint and ensure complete transparency on their DS-160 forms to avoid delays or denial in the visa process.
