D160 - Listing social media accounts

[MeG@Am 110]

Hello!

I know we are still far off to preparing to interview, but I saw a post in facebook about listing your social media accounts during the application for D160.  So it made me think about me and fiancé's case.  I (petitioner) use FB and IG, however, my fiancé (beneficiary) does not.  Will that affect the chance in getting the approval?

Thank you!

[mitzab 285]

1 hour ago, MeG@Am said:

Hello!

I know we are still far off to preparing to interview, but I saw a post in facebook about listing your social media accounts during the application for D160.  So it made me think about me and fiancé's case.  I (petitioner) use FB and IG, however, my fiancé (beneficiary) does not.  Will that affect the chance in getting the approval?

Thank you!

 

 

Nope

 

Ds160 is for beneficiary and if they don't use social media then that's that.

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

4 minutes ago, mitzab said:

 

 

Nope

 

Ds160 is for beneficiary and if they don't use social media then that's that.

Btw  Faebook has a lot of misinformation and not to be taken seriously

 

Not on the DS160 but at interview the CO can ask the bene to do a ds5535 which wants all social media ,   cell #'s used,  travel history,  names of siblings, etc

 

The DS-5535 is used whenever the U.S. consulate wants to conduct additional checks on the visa application – beyond the information provided in the standard application form. ... Based on the information provided, the U.S. consulate then makes a final decision on the visa application.Jan 21, 2021

[mitzab 285]

46 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Btw  Faebook has a lot of misinformation and not to be taken seriously

 

Not on the DS160 but at interview the CO can ask the bene to do a ds5535 which wants all social media ,   cell #'s used,  travel history,  names of siblings, etc

 

The DS-5535 is used whenever the U.S. consulate wants to conduct additional checks on the visa application – beyond the information provided in the standard application form. ... Based on the information provided, the U.S. consulate then makes a final decision on the visa application.Jan 21, 2021

You are absolutely correct 👏 

[mitzab 285]

I want to elaborate the fact which the OP stated, if the beneficiary doesn't have social media accounts than that's all they should answer. Does not take away the fact that they might get asked at the interview to provide other relevant or irrelevant information.

 

 

[MeG@Am 110]

Thank you for the information, guys!

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

9 hours ago, mitzab said:

I want to elaborate the fact which the OP stated, if the beneficiary doesn't have social media accounts than that's all they should answer. Does not take away the fact that they might get asked at the interview to provide other relevant or irrelevant information.

 

 

pretty hard to say "no social media "  when we are trying to prove 

how we met as many meet thru media

how they communicate daily or monthly from afar

who has house phones anymore besides me?

and who could afford to call on house phone regular ?

know anyone who doesn't have an email (now or ever) ?

 

social media is the way all of us keep in touch with foreign partners

and the ds 5535 ask for more that social media

it is travel in last 15 years

cell phone #'s of all living in the house in case bene uses phones of others

all siblings names and addresses

and so much more / it is a very thorough background of information to check

 

Facebook has 2.9 Billion users

and VK out of Russia has 649,016,600

[Redro 4,611]

39 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

pretty hard to say "no social media "  when we are trying to prove 

how we met as many meet thru media

how they communicate daily or monthly from afar

who has house phones anymore besides me?

and who could afford to call on house phone regular ?

know anyone who doesn't have an email (now or ever) ?

 

social media is the way all of us keep in touch with foreign partners

and the ds 5535 ask for more that social media

it is travel in last 15 years

cell phone #'s of all living in the house in case bene uses phones of others

all siblings names and addresses

and so much more / it is a very thorough background of information to check

 

Facebook has 2.9 Billion users

and VK out of Russia has 649,016,600

I didn't met my partner via social media (we met through friends) and we keep in touch via Whatsapp (not a social media app)

I also know some couples meet via computer games or dating apps (which are not considered social media)

So, it is completely possible OP's partner does not have social media but, can still prove they met and communicate via the internet and messaging services. 

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

1 minute ago, Kor2USA said:

I didn't met my partner via social media (we met through friends) and we keep in touch via Whatsapp (not a social media app)

I also know some couples meet via computer games or dating apps (which are not considered social media)

So, it is completely possible OP's partner does not have social media but, can still prove they met and communicate via the internet and messaging services. 

With its extensive social features, WhatsApp is considered a social media platform. WhatsApp is used by over a billion users every month to send text messages, photos/videos, etc. In a nutshell, WhatsApp is a messaging/social networking app that falls under the social media category.Oct 9, 2021

[Redro 4,611]

5 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

With its extensive social features, WhatsApp is considered a social media platform. WhatsApp is used by over a billion users every month to send text messages, photos/videos, etc. In a nutshell, WhatsApp is a messaging/social networking app that falls under the social media category.Oct 9, 2021

The DS-160 does not include WhatsApp as a social media platform, refers to it as a private messaging platform, and states you do not have to include it. 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/PDF-other/DS-160-Example_11-19-2020.pdf 

Maybe things have changed and someone who has completed the DS-160 recently can correct me if I am incorrect. 

 

Edited November 3, 2021 by Kor2USA

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

I assisted a VJ member to fill out a ds5535 and i called USCIS and talked to tier 2 person

she looked at a definiton given to her on the subject

Social media is anytime a person uses cell phone or computer  to correspond or look up information instead of face to face

(even house phone # has to be included on phone list for the ds 5535)

and the drop down list is only a few of them

 

Call an embassy or USCIS and ask to speak to Tier 2 

 

this is what she sent me  u will see even trip advisor is a type of social media

 

What are the 4 types of social media?

 

 

Different Types of Social Media Networks

• Social Networks: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
• Media Sharing Networks: Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube.
• Discussion Forums: Reddit, Quora, Digg.
• Bookmarking & Content Curation Networks: Pinterest, Flipboard.
• Consumer Review Networks: Yelp, Zomato, TripAdviso

   

Global Social Media Stats - DataReportal

https://datareportal.com › social-media-users

 

 

 

All the latest stats for social media use around the world, including active user numbers for Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, TikTok, WhatsApp, and many more.

[Redro 4,611]

12 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

I assisted a VJ member to fill out a ds5535 and i called USCIS and talked to tier 2 person

she looked at a definiton given to her on the subject

Social media is anytime a person uses cell phone or computer  to correspond or look up information instead of face to face

(even house phone # has to be included on phone list for the ds 5535)

and the drop down list is only a few of them

 

Call an embassy or USCIS and ask to speak to Tier 2 

 

this is what she sent me  u will see even trip advisor is a type of social media

 

What are the 4 types of social media?

 

 

Different Types of Social Media Networks

• Social Networks: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
• Media Sharing Networks: Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube.
• Discussion Forums: Reddit, Quora, Digg.
• Bookmarking & Content Curation Networks: Pinterest, Flipboard.
• Consumer Review Networks: Yelp, Zomato, TripAdviso

   

Global Social Media Stats - DataReportal

https://datareportal.com › social-media-users

 

 

 

All the latest stats for social media use around the world, including active user numbers for Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, TikTok, WhatsApp, and many more.

I was answering you question about how it completely possible OP's partner does not have social media as defined by the DS160 but is still able to communicate with the USC partner. 

If instead we are jumping straight to the DS5535, I defer to your experience helping other members complete that form. But, it would be very scary to know that not being on any of the initial apps listed in the DS160 would automatically trigger a DS5535. I then assume VisaJourney could also be included in the list of Social Media Apps... 

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

4 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

I was answering you question about how it completely possible OP's partner does not have social media as defined by the DS160 but is still able to communicate with the USC partner. 

If instead we are jumping straight to the DS5535, I defer to your experience helping other members complete that form. But, it would be very scary to know that not being on any of the initial apps listed in the DS160 would automatically trigger a DS5535. I then assume VisaJourney could also be included in the list of Social Media Apps... 

yep , VJ would be one

and u said Faccebook said social media is on ds 160/  it's not

 

and the ds 160 or ds 260 do not trigger the need for embassy to know social media 

and u don't put social media on those forms / only if u want notices sent to an email ID do u list one

 

usually the ds 160 and ds 260 say enough without the prompting any further info

that is totally up to the embassy CO to ask for additional information and to fill out the ds 5535

and the ds 5535 is a rough one to have to fill out / thank God it doesn't ask for passwords

 

and thank God we didn't have to do one/  my memory is gone for passwords and this BS

[Redro 4,611]

10 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

yep , VJ would be one

and u said Faccebook said social media is on ds 160/  it's not

 

and the ds 160 or ds 260 do not trigger the need for embassy to know social media 

and u don't put social media on those forms / only if u want notices sent to an email ID do u list one

 

usually the ds 160 and ds 260 say enough without the prompting any further info

that is totally up to the embassy CO to ask for additional information and to fill out the ds 5535

and the ds 5535 is a rough one to have to fill out / thank God it doesn't ask for passwords

 

and thank God we didn't have to do one/  my memory is gone for passwords and this BS

Unfortunately, social media is now on the DS160 and the DS260. The screenshots I shared earlier are from the travel.state.gov page.

I believe that is an official US government page? Please correct me if I'm wrong. 

I remembering reading about the change a few years back... 

https://www.rferl.org/a/new-u-s-visa-rules-may-push-foreigners-to-censor-their-posts/30005463.html 

 

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

11 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

Unfortunately, social media is now on the DS160 and the DS260. The screenshots I shared earlier are from the travel.state.gov page.

I believe that is an official US government page? Please correct me if I'm wrong. 

I remembering reading about the change a few years back... 

https://www.rferl.org/a/new-u-s-visa-rules-may-push-foreigners-to-censor-their-posts/30005463.html 

 

The date on that article is June 2019 when Trump introduced the ds 5535 / 

do u have example of today's ds 160 to see if they incorporated all these questions on a new ds 160?

have not heard of this yet?  but very interested !!!!

as we just helped  my MIL apply for tourist visa  and i didn't see these questions on the form so wondering if a tourist visa has different questions of ds 160 than someone who applies for K1 or worker ???? or other 

 

the ds 160 is what is filled out for tourist visa / that is the application

Edited November 3, 2021 by JeanneAdil