### New US Visa Regulations Require Public Social Media Accounts for Applicants In a significant policy change, the US government has mandated that all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas must set their personal social media accounts to public. This requirement aims to enhance the vetting process for visa applicants, particularly students and exchange program participants. The announcement was made by various US embassies, including those in Kuala Lumpur, Karachi, Lahore, and Dhaka, emphasizing the need for transparency in applicants' online identities to ensure national security and effective immigration control [https://www.lowyat.net/2025/357195/f-m-j-nonimmigrant-us-visa-applicants-social-media-public, https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/06/30/us-visa-applicants-told-to-make-social-media-accounts-public]. ### Breakdown of the New Visa Requirements 1. **Public Social Media Accounts**: - All F, M, and J visa applicants must adjust their social media privacy settings to public to facilitate identity verification [https://www.dawn.com/news/1920448/us-tightens-social-media-vetting-for-pakistani-students]. 2. **Implications for Noncompliance**: - Failure to disclose social media information or to set accounts to public may result in visa denial and ineligibility for future applications [https://www.indianexpress.com/article/world/social-media-handles-5-years-visa-ban-us-embassy-10090241]. 3. **Global Impact**: - This requirement affects applicants from various countries, including Malaysia, Pakistan, and India, highlighting a broader trend in US immigration policy aimed at tightening security measures [https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/us-imposes-stricter-visa-rules-for-pakistani-applicants-article-13196952, https://www.techjuice.pk/us-tightens-social-media-rules-for-pakistani-visa-applicants/amp]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Visa Application Process**: - The US Department of State has outlined that applicants must provide their social media usernames from the past five years on the DS-160 form [https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-tightens-visa-rules-social-media-handles-must-be-disclosed-by-applicants-8766350]. - **Security Justification**: - The new regulations are framed as necessary for national security, with officials stating that each visa adjudication is a "national security decision" [https://www.geo.tv/latest/611111-us-consulates-in-pakistan-ask-applicants-to-make-social-media-profiles-public]. ### Conclusion and Implications The recent changes to US visa application procedures reflect a growing emphasis on security and transparency in immigration processes. 1. **Mandatory Public Accounts**: All applicants for F, M, and J visas must ensure their social media accounts are public. 2. **Risk of Denial**: Noncompliance could lead to immediate visa denial and future ineligibility. 3. **Global Policy Shift**: This policy is part of a broader trend affecting applicants from multiple countries, indicating a significant shift in US immigration policy. These developments underscore the importance of online presence in the visa application process and the potential consequences of privacy settings on applicants' ability to secure visas [https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/384844/us-embassy-urges-student-visa-applicants-to-make].