The US Embassy in India on Tuesday issued a fresh warning about the consequences of illegal entry into the United States, stating that violators would face detention, deportation and permanent ineligibility for future visas.
In a post on X, the embassy said, “The United States has increased enforcement of immigration laws and removal of illegal aliens. Illegal entry into the United States will lead to detention, deportation, and permanent consequences for future visa eligibility.” It also warned that embarking on a “costly and dangerous journey” could result in jail time or being sent back home with a permanent record of immigration violation.
The announcement comes a day after the US government introduced a new rule requiring all Indian applicants for student visas to make their social media accounts public as part of enhanced vetting procedures. Effective immediately, the rule will apply to F, M and J category visa applicants. F-1 visas are for academic students and M-1 visas are for vocational studies. The J-1 visas are for individuals pursuing research, teaching or on-the-job training in the US.
The US Embassy on Monday stated that the change is aimed at improving national security and public safety, urging applicants to adjust the privacy settings on their social media profiles to allow scrutiny by consular officers.
This move follows a broader immigration policy shift, as the US State Department last month paused visa interview appointments to implement stricter background checks, especially focusing on online activity and political affiliations that could be deemed adverse.
The embassy resumed student visa interviews on June 18.