KARACHI/LAHORE: The United States consulates in Karachi and Lahore have advised all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas to set their social media accounts to public, as part of enhanced vetting procedures introduced by Washington.
The announcement, made via Instagram posts on Thursday, follows similar guidance issued earlier this week by the US Embassy in New Delhi. The move comes in response to new directives from the US government aimed at tightening security checks for student and exchange visitors.
“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas 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,” the consulates stated.
The directive aligns with an internal State Department cable dated June 18, which was reviewed by Reuters. The cable, issued under the administration of US President Donald Trump, ordered the resumption of student visa appointments with stricter vetting, particularly through social media.
Consular officers have been instructed to carry out “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of all student and exchange visitor applicants to identify any individuals who may exhibit “hostile attitudes toward our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.”
Since 2019, US visa applicants have been required to disclose all social media identifiers and account handles for platforms used in the previous five years. The consulates warned that failing to provide accurate or complete information could lead to visa denial and future ineligibility.
- F and M visas are issued to academic and vocational students.
- The J visa covers participants in approved exchange visitor programs.
Earlier, on May 27, the Trump administration temporarily halted new appointments for student and exchange visitor visas as it moved to expand the scope of social media screening for applicants.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said updated guidelines for visa processing will be announced following a comprehensive review.
