Since last week, the U.S. Embassy made it official: If you’re applying for an F, M, or J visa, your social media accounts must be public and if your digital trail looks suspicious or private, you risk getting denied.
I’ve been thinking about this since I read about a 21-year-old Norwegian tourist who lost his chance.
Border officials at a U.S. airport searched his phone and found a meme mocking JD Vance. He was held, strip‑searched, blood-tested, deported.
U.S. officials later said the meme wasn’t the issue, he had a prior drug admission. But, the meme still made it to the Irish Parliament, held up as a warning against ideological surveillance!
It sounds like a strange ask by the US. But, the truth is, I get both the sides. When I studied there, I handed over everything: my finances, admit letter, accommodation proof, travel insurance and medical records to get a visa.
I get that a country wants to know who’s coming in. And, social media is identity today.
But what’s changed is that now, they’re not just checking who you are, they’re evaluating what you’ve ever thought, said, shared, liked, or joked about.
We used to say: your social media is your resume.
Now it’s your admissibility file.
Every meme you save, every comment you like, every video you post, it’s all part of the digital footprint and this shift is hard.
Especially for students, creators, and founders who’ve grown up online. For Gen Z, who typically live on their phone and use it like a diary.
Now imagine getting flagged because a border agent interprets something you posted three years ago, in a different context, on a different app, for a different joke.
This is bigger than one meme because China even warns its students about the U.S. border now. Australia issued similar advisories. Even Indian applicants are seeing more 221(g) slips where you’re told to “wait for review.”
The reality is digital identity is your identity. It’s like an Aadhar card or passport. The question is: who decides what’s problematic? A meme about a politician? A TikTok trend?
When you blur that line, intent becomes interpretation and interpretation becomes policy.
I said this to a founder yesterday in a different context: “For all of us, it’s a wake up call. Every post is now in your file.
And, what you did 10 years ago on your Facebook wall can now be held against you. And, it could create a PR storm, prevent a visa or lose you a job.
Do you think this move is fair? How do you manage your social media?
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