US Visa Tightening: S. Jaishankar Addresses Rajya Sabha on Student Deportations

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha about the United States updated stance, where every visa adjudication is now considered a "national security decision." This revised approach has resulted in significantly stricter scrutiny and has impacted numerous Indian nationals.

Since April 2025, several Indian student visas have been revoked, with some students facing pressure to self-deport for what are often deemed minor offences. Jaishankar affirmed that the Indian government has intervened in multiple instances, urging Washington to avoid harsh measures over small violations. India maintains that while national security concerns are legitimate grounds for denial, visas for credible and legitimate applicants should be a basic right.

Further changes introduced under the Trump administrations tougher immigration rules include a mandate, effective from 15 December, for all visa applicants, including H-1B workers and H-4 dependents, to maintain public social media profiles for background checks. The US government asserts that visas are a privilege, necessitating stronger screening under its "security first" policy.