US may screen foreign journalists’ social media for visas. What it means for Indians

The United States State Department is set to screen the social media accounts of foreign journalists applying for visas to enter the country, as part of new measures aimed at tightening visa rules, according to internal memos reported by Reuters. The Daily Signal cited an internal memo that revealed the expansion of social media vetting to encompass foreign media representatives, alongside applicants for visas from Canada and Mexico.

The State Department declined to comment on the specifics, citing "purported internal documents," but emphasized that the initiative seeks to ensure applicants are eligible under the law and pose no threat to US security or national interests. The new policy, which has yet to be determined in terms of its effective date, could significantly impact Indian nationals, who are the largest international student community in the United States.

In the 2024-25 academic year, 363,019 students from India and 265,919 from China constituted 53% of all foreign students in the US, as reported by the Institute of International Education (IIE).