State Department Expands Social Media Screening to H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants
At A Glance
The U.S. Department of State announced on December 3, 2025 that it will expand mandatory online presence reviews to all H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents, effective December 15, 2025. This screening requirement, previously applied only to F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visa applicants, will now affect all employment-based H-1B workers and their family members applying for visas at U.S. consulates abroad.
All H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will be subject to mandatory online presence review as part of the visa adjudication process. Applicants are instructed to adjust privacy settings on all social media profiles to "public" to facilitate the vetting process. This requirement applies only to consular processing at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad, not to change of status applicants processing within the United States. The State Department announcement does not indicate any exemptions or categories of H-1B applicants excluded from this requirement.
What This Means for Our Clients
Impact on Consular Processing
This policy directly affects employees and their dependents who need to obtain H-1B or H-4 visas at U.S. consulates abroad. This includes:
Initial H-1B visa issuance for new employees outside the United States
H-1B visa renewals for employees who travel internationally and need new visa stamps
H-4 dependent visas for spouses and children accompanying or joining H-1B workers
Employees who have approved H-1B petitions but have never obtained an H-1B visa stamp
Adjudication Delays
The addition of mandatory social media review to H-1B visa adjudications will likely extend processing times at consulates. Consular officers will need to review online profiles in addition to existing interview and documentation requirements. Applicants should anticipate longer wait times for visa appointments and adjudications, particularly at high-volume consulates.
Potential for Increased Refusals
Social media content may become a basis for visa denials if consular officers identify posts, associations, or activities they determine raise security concerns or demonstrate visa ineligibility.
Impact on Business Travel Planning
Employers should factor in additional time and uncertainty for employees who need to travel internationally and obtain new H-1B visa stamps.
We will continue to track implementation of this policy at various consulates and share best practices as they emerge. For questions about how this affects your planned travel or visa applications, please contact our office.