H-1B Workers Now Required to Make Social Media Profiles Public

The State Department has announced a major expansion of its digital-vetting process that will affect hundreds of thousands of H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents. Starting Dec. 15, 2025, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants must set their social media profiles to public so consular officers can examine online activity as part of the application review.

Until now, routine social-media screening primarily applied to student and exchange visitor categories (F, M, and J). The new guidance brings H-1B workers and their spouses under the same level of scrutiny.

In its announcement, the State Department said it “uses all available information in visa screening and vetting,” add that “every visa adjudication is a national security decision.”

What’s Changing for H-1B and H-4 Applicants

According to the new guidance, consular officers will now conduct expanded security reviews that may include:

• More detailed employment verification
• Closer scrutiny of work arrangements and job duties
• Additional background checks
• A full online presence review, including social-media activity

Applicants must adjust privacy settings to public across all social media platforms. This allows officers to evaluate profiles for “potentially derogatory information,” said the State Department, including:

• Signs of hostility toward the U.S.
• Support for unlawful antisemitic violence or harassment
• Advocacy for, or support of, terrorism or other national-security threats

While consular officers have sometimes reviewed social media in past cases, this is the first time the State Department has formally required H-1B and H-4 applicants to make their profiles public.

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F, M, and J Applicants Also Affected

Student (F, M) and exchange visitor (J) applicants have already been subject to social-media reviews, and the State Department confirmed that requirement will remain in place.

Potential Impact on Processing Times

The agency said the expanded vetting “may extend processing timelines.” Employers should prepare for:

• Longer visa-stamping delays
• Increased requests for additional documentation
• More frequent administrative processing tied to digital-vetting checks

This is especially relevant during peak travel periods or when employees need to renew visas while abroad.

What Employers and Workers Should Do Now

For applicants:

• Confirm your social-media profiles are set to public before your visa interview.
• Review accounts for outdated, inaccurate, or misinterpreted content.
• Be prepared to explain inconsistencies between online information and your application.

For employers:

• Prepare workers for additional interview questions related to online activity.
• Build flexibility into international-travel timelines.
• Reach out to your legal team if an employee’s case is delayed because of a social-media review.

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