The U.S. Embassy in Nepal has stated that failing to provide information related to social media in a visa application could lead to the visa being denied. If someone has applied for a visa, their social media accounts should not be locked. If they are, that could be a reason for visa denial, according to a warning issued by the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The embassy has mentioned in its notice that not only could a visa be denied for failing to provide social media details, but the applicant could also be deemed ineligible for future U.S. visas. Some applicants, when asked in the visa form whether they are present on social media, have responded that they are not—despite having active accounts—just to avoid the hassle of providing details. Based on the assumption that such individuals may be hiding the truth, their visa could be denied.

Even if someone manages to get a visa this way, it would be considered as having lied to the U.S., which could result in their visa being revoked at any time. The embassy issued this warning referring to existing provisions that make individuals ineligible for U.S. visas if found to have provided false information.

In recent years, the U.S. government has adopted a policy of denying visas to individuals who have previously entered the U.S. and engaged in activities that harmed U.S. foreign or national security interests. To strengthen its national security policy, the U.S. has tightened its visa, green card, and citizenship procedures.

Therefore, the U.S. Embassy in Nepal has requested applicants to make their social media accounts public and has clarified that each visa decision is directly tied to national security. Following this decision, it has been stated that those who have locked their Facebook accounts or set platforms like Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram to private—so that only followers can view them—and apply for a U.S. visa without making these accounts public, could have their visa applications rejected.