The US Embassy in Kathmandu has announced a new requirement for individuals applying for certain nonimmigrant visas, mandating that applicants set their social media accounts to "public" to assist with security vetting.
Posting a tweet on Wednesday, the Embassy said, "Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States."
The new measure applies to applicants for student (F, M) and exchange visitor (J) visas, requiring them to make their social media profiles publicly accessible during the visa review process. The move aims to enhance security checks and verify applicants' backgrounds more efficiently.
This policy aligns with broader US efforts to strengthen immigration screening procedures. Previous measures have included mandatory disclosure of social media handles on visa application forms. However, the latest directive goes further by requiring public access to applicants' posts and profiles.
Visa applicants are advised to comply with the updated guidelines to avoid delays or complications in processing. The US Embassy has not specified whether exceptions will be made for applicants who decline to adjust their privacy settings.
For further details, applicants are encouraged to visit the official US Embassy in Kathmandu’s website or contact their visa support services.
.
