Effective March 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of State will expand its social media vetting requirements to a broader range of nonimmigrant visa applicants. The policy now covers several additional visa categories, requiring applicants to make their social media profiles publicly accessible to facilitate enhanced screening.

Background:

The U.S. government has, in recent years, increasingly incorporated digital footprint analysis into its visa adjudication process. Social media vetting was initially applied to select visa categories, particularly those involving employment-based and academic travel such as H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J visas.

Key Highlights:

• Expanded Scope: Social media vetting now applies to applicants in the following visa categories:
  A-3, C-3 (domestic workers), G-5, H-3, H-4 dependents of H-3, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U.
• Existing Coverage Maintained: The policy continues to apply to H-1B applicants and their dependents, as well as F, M, and J visa applicants.
• Mandatory Privacy Adjustment: All affected applicants are instructed to set their social media profiles to “public” or “open” to facilitate review.
• Comprehensive Vetting: The Department confirms that it uses all available information during the screening process to identify applicants who may be inadmissible, including those posing potential national security or public safety risks.

More information is available here.

Conclusion:

Applicants across a wider range of nonimmigrant visa categories should anticipate closer scrutiny of their online presence and ensure consistency between their application materials and publicly available information. We at Murthy Immigration Services are closely monitoring this important topic and will continue to provide updates as they become available.