US embassy issues new guidelines for Bangladeshi visa applicants

The US Embassy in Dhaka has issued new directives for Bangladeshis seeking US visas for travel, education, employment or other purposes. According to the new guidelines, certain categories of non-immigrant visa applicants must keep the privacy settings of their social media accounts 'public'.

The embassy announced the new rules in a notice on Friday, June 5, stating that the regulation has been in effect since March 30. The move is intended to make the process of verifying applicants' identities and determining their admissibility to the United States more effective and accurate.

According to the directive, applicants must keep their profiles on all social media platforms they use, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, in a manner that allows visa officers to access necessary information. The embassy said reviewing online presence is now a vital part of the visa vetting process.

The new rules apply to applicants for A-3 and C-3 visas (if the applicant is a domestic worker), G-5, H-3 and H-4 dependents of H-3 visa holders. Additionally, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1 and R-2 dependents of R-1 visa holders, as well as all non-immigrant visa applicants for S, T and U visas, have also been instructed to keep their social media privacy settings open.

The US embassy stated that verifying applicants' social media information will make the identity and eligibility assessment process easier.

Those seeking further details have been advised to consult the official information sources published by the US embassy. The embassy also said applicants in the relevant categories should properly follow the new guidelines to maintain transparency in the visa application process and avoid potential complications.