US Visa Screening Process: Continuous Monitoring and New Requirements for International Students
Ongoing Visa Monitoring by the US
The United States emphasized on Saturday that its visa screening process is not a one-time event; it actively monitors all visa holders to ensure compliance with immigration laws and regulations.
The US Embassy in India stated, “If individuals fail to adhere to these laws, we will revoke their visas and initiate deportation.”
Previously, the embassy warned that providing false information or omitting details could result in visa denial and future ineligibility.
In a recent video, the embassy urged students and exchange program applicants to disclose all social media accounts used in the last five years on their visa applications.
“Failure to include your social media details may lead to visa denial and potential ineligibility for future visas,” the embassy cautioned.
This announcement aligns with the Trump administration's intensified scrutiny of international students.
On May 27, Washington directed its embassies worldwide to suspend student visa interviews until further notice.
Since the resumption of interviews in June, all applicants for student and exchange visitor visas have been required to make their social media profiles public. This adjustment aims to facilitate background checks during the visa screening process to verify applicants’ identities and admissibility, as stated by the US embassy in New Delhi.
Since 2019, visa applicants have been mandated to provide their social media identifiers, according to the embassy's statement.
Washington has also taken stringent measures to enforce compliance among universities, including freezing substantial funding, revoking visas, and attempting to deport international students. However, many of these actions have faced legal challenges.
U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules – and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don’t. pic.twitter.com/jV1o6ETRg4
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) July 12, 2025
According to the Institute of International Education, over 1.1 million international students were enrolled in US universities during the 2023-2024 academic year, representing 6% of the total higher education population in the country.
India contributed the largest number of students, followed by China.
However, recent statistics from the US State Department revealed that the number of student visas issued to Indian nationals from March to May reached its lowest point since the pandemic year of 2022.
During this period, the issuance of F-1 visas to Indians dropped by approximately 27% compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits foreign students to study in the United States.
The March to May timeframe is typically a peak period for student visa applications, as many international students aim to start their studies in August and September, coinciding with the fall intake at most US universities.