Why did you hide Reddit account? Indian student faces US visa scrutiny

When a student from Maharashtra applying for a US F-1 visa walked in for her interview, she didn’t expect her Reddit activity to come under scrutiny. She listed all other social media accounts, barring Reddit, where users mostly post anonymously. The student, who is facing visa scrutiny for not sharing her Reddit account, shared her experience with the consular officials – on Reddit.

Identified online as HoneyBee2029, the Maharashtra-based applicant said she was issued a 221(g) slip, which suspended the visa process temporarily till disclosure of full details.

The officer delayed the visa process and flagged her Reddit account, even though it was public and had no objectionable content.

“If you have an interview coming up, then yes. Name all, literally all your social media handles you’ve created in the last 5 years. I’ve been on hold due to a petty Reddit account which I never used. So don’t risk it. They definitely have AI assistance to track all your digital footprints,” the Reddit user said.

In a Reddit post recounting the experience, the student said the visa officer questioned why the Reddit handle hadn’t been included in the DS-160 form.

The student maintained that her profile was open and clean, but the officer claimed the account “was not visible” during an internal review.

At the end of the interview, the officer issued the 221(g) form, asking the student to ensure that all social media handles were made public.

“She mentioned that the account was not visible while it was an open account, and at the end of the interview, issued me a 221(g) slip requesting that I make all my social media handles public,” the student wrote, seeking advice on how to proceed with the process.

Reddit users responded to the post, pointing out that linking social media profiles might have made it easier for the consular office to locate the account.

One person noted, “Mate why are you posting your full name here? A google search shows your Reddit account. I think just wait for a response at this point and go from there.”

“If you don’t need this Reddit account, you might as well close this one and create one later, after the interview, and you land in the US,” suggested another person.

WHY REDDIT IS UNDER SCANNER?

A 221(g) form does not mean a visa rejection, it indicates the officer needs more information before making a final decision.

All applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant US visas, which are meant for students, have been ordered to make their social media profiles public.

As per the US State Department, this will allow thorough vetting of candidates.

It added that the US visa is “a privilege, not a right”, and its screening does not stop after a visa has been issued, and authorities may revoke it if one breaks the law.

“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,” the US Embassy said in a notification on June 23.

The provision for social media vetting for US visa applicants has been in place since 2019. However, the new announcements signal that foreign nationals will be subjected to an increased level of scrutiny. The enhanced surveillance comes amid President Trump’s crackdown on immigration, leading to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids on illegal immigrants.

The Maharashtra student’s case is an example of how strict the vetting is, and that all social media accounts need to be listed to avoid further scrutiny.

– Ends