At this time, there is a lot of anxiety among Indian students planning to study in America. This happened because US President Donald Trump’s administration has made social media verification mandatory before approving visas for international students.
An internal cable from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that visa applicants would be scrutinized for their social media posts before being allowed to enter the US. The move comes amid a sweeping crackdown on international students following pro-Palestinian protests at American universities last year.
After this decision, concern has spread among Indian students planning to study in American universities and now they have started deleting their social media posts. Due to the Trump administration’s decision to investigate social media accounts, Indian students are not only removing their posts from social media, but some are even deleting their social media accounts.
According to a report, a student named Manya (name changed), who was selected for a master’s programme at an Ivy League university, has deleted her Instagram and LinkedIn profiles. Manya’s visa counselor had warned her that her political posts could threaten her visa application.
Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Grading.com, said that even a small hint of political activism can lead to denial of US visa.