Effective December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will expand its online presence review to include all H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents. This vetting requirement, already applied to F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, now extends to a major employment-based category.

Key Requirement

All applicants in the H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J visa categories are instructed to set their social media accounts to “public” to allow consular officers to review online activity as part of security screening.

Purpose of the Change

The State Department emphasizes that every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Online presence reviews help officers determine whether an applicant poses a risk to U.S. public safety, intends to comply with visa terms, and is otherwise eligible for admission. As stated by the Department, “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.”

What Applicants Should Do

• Ensure social media accounts are accurate, consistent, and professionally presented.
• Temporarily change privacy settings to public before the visa interview.
• Verify that DS-160 information aligns with online profiles.
• H-1B employers should notify employees of this new requirement and anticipate possible additional review time during visa processing.

Conclusion

The expansion of online presence vetting reflects the U.S. government’s continued focus on integrating digital information into immigration screening. H-1B professionals and their families should be aware of these new requirements and take proactive steps to ensure a smooth visa application process. This official announcement can be found here.