President Donald Trump
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The United States of America has introduced new vetting requirements for individuals applying for F, M, or J non immigrant visas.
Ugandans have not been saved from the wrath that was triggered after Donald Trump ascended to the US Presidency for the second time a few months ago. The US embassy in Nsambya, through their X handle said that effective immediately, applicants are required to set their social media profiles to public.
According to officials, this change is aimed at enhancing identity verification and ensuring national security during the visa process.
“This move is part of a bigger effort to prevent the entry of individuals who may pose a threat to public safety. The new directive aligns with the Presidential Proclamation on Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals, which came into effect on June 9, 2025,” said officials.
This proclamation is aimed at limiting or suspending visa issuance and entry to nationals from specific countries identified as potential security risks.
Although applicants from affected countries can still submit their visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, they may ultimately be denied entry or visas under the new rules.
The updated policy is expected to affect thousands of students and scholars worldwide, many of whom use private or limited-access social media accounts.
Critics argue it could infringe on personal privacy, while supporters see it as a necessary step in maintaining national security.
The U.S. government advised all visa applicants to review their online presence carefully and ensure their accounts reflect accurate and appropriate information, as it will now be scrutinized during the vetting process.
Embassy statement
SThe statement said that starting now, if one is applying for a student visa (F, M, or J category visa), they should make sure their social media accounts are set to public.
“This helps with the identity and admissibility checks required by U.S. law. Not including this info could result in a visa denial or make the applicant ineligible for future visas,” further reads the statement.
It urges the applicants to be honest, double check their application, and make sure everything is accurate before submitting their requests.
