A 27-year-old Indian student who had just secured a $100,000 (Rs 89 lakh) scholarship to pursue a graduate degree in journalism at Columbia University in the US had his visa application rejected at the final step of the process. Kaushik Raj's admission to the university was also confirmed, but he suspects his social media handles played a role in his rejection, The Washington Post reported.
Raj had completed every stage of the visa application process. The final step required him to submit his social media handles for review — part of a new screening policy introduced by the Trump administration.
“I wasn’t very active online,” Raj told the publication. “I never posted personal opinions on global issues like Gaza. But I did share my reporting — stories on hate crimes and India’s treatment of Muslims.”
On August 21, two months after the policy change, Raj received a rejection letter from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The letter, reviewed by The Washington Post, did not mention his online activity. Instead, it cited insufficient ties to India that would “compel” him to return after his studies.
Raj, who was born and raised in India and whose entire family lives in the country, called the reasoning “absurd.”
“It’s clearly because they’ve gone through my social media,” he said. “I will apply to the U.K. now.”
Three other Indian students shared similar experiences with The Post. All had cleared earlier stages of the visa process and were rejected after the social media review. Each was told they had failed to prove strong ties to India, despite having lived there all their lives.
Asked about the cases, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told the publication: “The Trump administration is ensuring that so-called ‘guests’ in our country are not posing a national security threat or trying to undermine US foreign policy.”
Raj’s case has sparked concern among journalists and academics, who say the policy risks penalising applicants for legitimate professional work. For Raj, the rejection has forced a change in plans — but not in purpose.
“I still want to study journalism,” he said. “Just not in a country that punishes you for doing it.”
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