‘Screening does not stop after visa is issued’: US warns visa holders, says they can be deported for breaking laws

On Friday, through a detailed video, it sought student and exchange programme applicants to list all social media handles used in the past five years on their DS-160 visa forms. “If you omit your social media information, it could lead to a visa denial, and you might become ineligible for future visas,” the video said.

U.S. 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. pic.twitter.com/jV1o6ETRg4

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) July 12, 2025

The United States has just restarted scheduling student visa interviews in India, ahead of the Fall 2025 college intake. This move follows a suspension that lasted more than a month.

“Posts across mission India have resumed scheduling F, M, and J (student and exchange) non-immigrant visa applications. Applicants should check the embassy or consulate websites for appointment availability,” a US embassy spokesperson said earlier this week.

India continues to be the top source of international students in the US. Last year, close to 4.2 lakh Indian students were enrolled in American institutions, marking an 11.8 per cent increase over 2023.

The US mission in India had paused new student visa appointments in late May due to updated rules involving social media scrutiny. On June 23, the embassy said on social media: “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 vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law.”

In keeping with the Donald Trump administration’s tight control over citizenship and visa matters, the embassy had said recently, “Those who are in the United States illegally or commit visa fraud will be held responsible. If you break US law, you will be punished with significant criminal penalties.”