Effective December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will expand its online presence review requirement to include all H-1B visa applicants and their dependents (H-4). This review is already applicable to students and exchange visitors in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications. To facilitate this review, applicants in these categories will be required to ensure that the privacy settings on all social media profiles are set to “public” so that visa officers can review online activities as part of their visa vetting processes.  

The U.S. Department of State conducts screening and vetting of visa applicants to confirm eligibility for admission to the United States. As part of this process, applicants are required to demonstrate that they meet the criteria for the visa requested and that their intended activities align with the terms of their admission. Pursuant to the initial announcement issued on June 18, 2025, U.S. embassies and consulates have been instructed to thoroughly vet applicants for any indications of “hostile attitudes toward U.S. citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.” As part of this enhanced vetting process, consular officers will review applicants’ entire online presence.   

If you or someone you know may be affected by this expanded screening process, we encourage you to contact immigration counsel to discuss your legal options and next steps. Immigration policies and procedures are evolving rapidly.  

Foster LLP will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates through our website at www.fosterglobal.com.