The US Embassy in India has announced that visa holders found violating American laws—even after receiving approval—may face visa revocation and deportation.
This update marks another stride in the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on immigration compliance.
“US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued,” the embassy stated on X (formerly Twitter). The message highlights ongoing monitoring to ensure visa holders uphold all legal and immigration standards.
Applicants for student (F), vocational (M), and exchange (J) non-immigrant visas are now required to make their social media accounts publicly accessible for vetting. Concealment or misinformation regarding social activity could trigger visa denial or permanent ineligibility, officials cautioned.
A newly introduced $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’—effective from 2026—will apply across all non-immigrant visa categories. The fee acts as a refundable security deposit contingent on rule adherence.
The embassy reinforced that every visa adjudication remains a “national security decision,” emphasising that a visa is “a privilege, not a right.” Since 2019, social media identifiers from the previous five years have been mandatory during visa applications, aiming to better establish applicant identity and eligibility under US law.
Digital advisories and public warnings have surged recently, making it clear that non-compliance, whether via unauthorised entry or misrepresentation, could lead to detention, removal, and future visa bans.
