US Tightens Student Visa Checks as MEA Flags Indian Concerns

• India’s MEA received complaints from students on US visa delays after new vetting rules.
• The US now mandates public social media profiles for student visa applicants.
• India continues talks with the US to ensure fair, secure student mobility.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has received numerous requests from Indian students and their families, highlighting challenges in securing US student visa appointments following the announcement by American authorities of enhanced screening and vetting for visa applicants, the government stated on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that the MEA addressed the issue with the US embassy in New Delhi and the US Department of State. The ministry was asked if the government is aware of the US student visa problems encountered by potential Indian students.

"On 18 June 2025, the US Department of State (DOS) issued a press release titled 'Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants'. In the said press release, DOS stated that it uses all available information in its visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security," the minister said.

According to the updated rules, the US would perform an extensive and meticulous assessment, including online presence, of every student and exchange visitor applicant in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant categories.

To aid in this vetting, all candidates for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas would be directed to change their social media profile privacy settings to "public," as per the guidelines. "Following these developments, the Ministry of External Affairs has received several representations from Indian students and their families flagging difficulty in obtaining student visa appointments. The ministry took up the matter with US Embassy in New Delhi as well as the US Department of State," Singh said.

While the issuance of visa is a sovereign prerogative of the state concerned, the MEA has "consistently raised" with the US embassy in New Delhi as well as the US State Department in Washington DC the issues being faced by prospective Indian students in obtaining US visas, he added.

"The Government of India remains engaged with the US Government to promote mutually advantageous and secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals, and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel," Singh said.

In a written reply to another inquiry, the MoS stated that the Indian government continues to interact with officials in the United States regarding "addressing illegal immigration and human trafficking by taking strong action against the bad actors, criminal facilitators, and illegal immigration networks".

In a different inquiry, the MEA was questioned if the government is aware of the illegal immigration schemes functioning in the nation that deceitfully send Indians overseas, resulting in financial loss and damage to nation reputation.

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"Till June 2025, a total of 3,505 illegal agents in the country have been notified on the eMigrate portal," Singh said.

The ministry has conducted an awareness campaign on safe and legal migration via the eMigrate portal throughout the country, organizing workshops, training sessions, information meetings, and digital campaigns aimed at media representatives, police, law enforcement agencies, local authorities, potential recruiting agents, entrepreneurs, and the general public, the minister noted.

"During these sessions, awareness emigration regulations, schemes beneficial for emigrants like Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT), eMigrate portal and various advisories issued by Indian embassies are brought to the notice of all stakeholders," he said.