U.S. Visa Denial for Indian Journalism Scholar Raises Concerns Over Social Media Scrutiny
Kaushik Raj, a 27-year-old journalist from India, was recently denied a U.S. student visa despite securing a $100,000 scholarship to pursue a graduate degree in journalism at Columbia University.
The rejection has sparked discussions about the implications of the Trump administration’s policy requiring visa applicants to disclose their social media profiles.
Raj had completed all standard visa application procedures and was admitted to Columbia University. However, during the final stage of the application process, he was required to submit his social media handles for review.
Although Raj was not highly active online, he had shared links to his journalistic work, which often focused on topics such as hate crimes and the treatment of Muslims in India.
He refrained from expressing personal opinions on contentious global issues like the Israel-Gaza conflict.
On August 21, Raj received a rejection letter from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The letter stated that he had not demonstrated sufficient ties to India that would compel him to return after his studies.
Raj believes that his social media activity, particularly his reporting on sensitive issues, may have influenced the decision.
He expressed his intention to reapply for a student visa to the United Kingdom, stating, “I still want to study journalism, just not in a country that punishes you for doing it.”
Raj’s case is part of a broader trend. The Washington Post reported that several Indian students have faced visa denials after their social media profiles were scrutinized, despite having cleared all other application stages.
These students were informed that they failed to prove strong ties to India, even though they had lived there their entire lives.
The U.S. State Department has defended the policy, stating that it is designed to ensure that visa applicants do not pose a national security threat or seek to undermine U.S. foreign policy.
However, critics argue that the policy infringes upon free speech rights and disproportionately affects individuals who express dissenting views.
A federal judge recently condemned efforts to suppress pro-Palestinian student protests, labeling them as unconstitutional.
Raj’s experience highlights the challenges faced by international students navigating evolving visa policies and the potential consequences of their online presence.
#KaushikRaj #USVisaDenial #SocialMediaScreening #JournalismScholar #ColumbiaUniversity #StudentVisa #FreeSpeech #India #USImmigrationPolicy #InternationalStudents
