The United States has expanded its screening and social media screening process to include more visa categories. This practice was first implemented for F, M, and J visa applicants and later expanded to H-1B and H-4 (H-1B dependent) applicants beginning December 15, 2025.
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Social media screening will now also be conducted for these additional nonimmigrant visa classifications: All A-3, C-3 (if domestic worker), G-5, H-3, H-4 dependent on H-3, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U. The United States will begin accepting applications for these visas beginning March 20, 03.
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“These are in addition to H-1B applicants and their dependents, and applicants for F, M, and J student and exchange visas who are already subject to this review,” the US Department of Transportation said in a March 25 statement.
What do applicants need to do now?
The US department ordered “all applicants for A-3, C-3 (if domestic worker), G-5, H-3, H-4 dependents on H-3, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, U, H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas on all” or to adjust the “open” privacy settings on nonimmigrant visas to all social networks. facilitate this screening process.
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What is social media screening?
Applicants are now asked to share all their social media handles and usernames used in the last five years. Officials check applicants on social media
Why social media screening?
The US has implemented social media screening to check the online presence of applicants. The US embassies and consulates in Mexico said the vetting was “necessary to establish (applicants’) identity and admissibility to the United States under US law.”
Former U.S. visa officer Mandy says officials “check your social media to make sure you’re not someone who’s in trouble.”
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The US travel department it said it uses all available information in visa screening and screening to identify visa applicants who are “inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety.”
The US believes that “every visa grant is a national security decision” and therefore conducts thorough screening of all visa applicants.
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“The United States must be vigilant during the visa process to ensure that those applying for admission to the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly demonstrate their eligibility for the requested visa, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the conditions of their admission,” the department said.
How can your social media presence affect your visa application?
Your social media activity plays a vital role in the approval of your US visa application. Applicants must be extremely careful with their social media presence as even the slightest ‘misrepresentation’ of any post, comment or movement, such as deleting a post, could result in your visa being delayed or cancelled.
What are the red flags?
1. If you don’t disclose any social media account
2. Using language suggesting “hostile attitudes” toward the US
3. Anti-Semitic, racist or otherwise hateful language
4. Possible ties to or support for extremist groups or groups that the US considers to be terrorist organizations
5. Discrepancies between online content and submitted application materials
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What you should/shouldn’t do:
You should declare a social media account that you have not used in the last five years: Yes. If you do not list the account, it may be considered false, even if the account is inactive. You must list the URLs of all your social media handles on the DS-160 form.
Should you delete any social media post that you think might affect your application? No. Stanford University’s Bechtel International Center does not recommend suddenly deleting large amounts of content immediately before an interview.
Should you keep any of your social media accounts private? Hiding accounts is risky. “That’s not a good idea,” says the lawyer Brian Burke of Immigration Attorneys Shihab Burke LLC. In the video, he says, “…if you leave things out, you will be involved in fraud or misinterpretation.” Meanwhile, a Reddit user said: “…getting caught lying on your app is way worse than having some questionable posts.”
When should you “go public” with your accounts? former visa, Mandy Furbacherthe officer said to make sure all their social media accounts, all they’ve ever used, are set to public before their visa interview.
What if the social media screening didn’t go well?
A U.S. immigration lawyer says U.S. officials have not specifically given a reason for canceling the application.
Some consulates may adjust or reschedule appointments to implement new screening procedures. Also, social media review may result in additional administrative processing that may extend visa deadlines, the Bechtel International Center explained on its website.
