The US consulates in Karachi and Lahore have announced new guidelines for F, M, and J visa applicants, requesting them to set all their social media accounts to public for security vetting.
This move follows an earlier announcement by the US Embassy in Delhi and aligns with new vetting procedures introduced by the Trump administration, aimed at stricter background checks for visa applicants.
According to a State Department cable dated June 18, US consular officers are now required to conduct “comprehensive vetting” to detect individuals with hostile views toward US citizens, culture, or institutions.
The announcement was made through Instagram posts by the US missions in Pakistan, stating that all student and exchange visitor visa applicants must now adjust their privacy settings to ‘public’ on all social media platforms.
Applicants are also reminded that since 2019, the US visa application forms have required disclosure of all social media handles for both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas as part of routine security checks.
The consulates emphasized that failure to share accurate social media information could result in a visa denial or future ineligibility for any US visa, making transparency essential during the application process.
The F and M visa categories apply to international students, while the J visa is issued to individuals taking part in official US exchange visitor programs for research, teaching, or cultural exchange.
Earlier on May 27, the Trump administration temporarily halted new visa appointments for student and exchange categories while expanding security measures, including social media vetting protocols.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that updated visa guidance would be shared with embassies and consulates once the review process is finalized.
