Visa Power: Be careful what you post on social media

HYDERABAD: Be careful about what you post, advise experts to US- bound students going on F-1 visas. This follows reports that US will now be scrutinising social media content and interactions of students intending to move to the US for higher studies. Ganesh Valmiki, CMD of a Valmiki Group, asks the students not to post any messages against Trump administration or about hate crimes or even messages like 'Good-bye India' or 'Thank God I am leaving the country for good.' These messages will create suspicion in their minds thereby affecting the student's chances for admission in a US college.

The overseas consultant says that last year US officials had enquired along with financial documents and details of the college of admission, also details of social media accounts. These were never a part of the visa issuing process earlier. According to reports from Washington, vigorous screening methods including seeking information about social media identities are part of the new security procedures being implemented from May 25 this year.

According to US officials, consular officers can demand extra information from applicants who they feel “require more rigorous national security vetting.” Such visa applicants will be asked to provide additional information, including their social media handles, prior passport numbers, additional information about family members, and a longer history of past travel, employment, and contact information.

However, these changes will affect only a fraction of one percent of the more than 13 million annual visa applicants worldwide, US authorities said. Providing the information is voluntary, though the questionnaire informs applicants that individuals who do not provide all the requested information may be denied a US visa. Meanwhile, a city student who has a US visa appointment soon, stated that there was no mention of social media account details in the paper work she had done.