On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced it will expand the online presence review requirement to cover H-1B specialty occupation visa applicants and H-4 dependents, in addition to the F, M and J student and exchange visitor categories already subject to this screening. The expansion is effective December 15, 2025.
The State Department stated it uses all available information in visa screening and vetting to identify applicants who may be inadmissible, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety. The department emphasized that “every visa adjudication is a national security decision” and reiterated its position that a U.S. visa is “a privilege, not a right.”
To facilitate this expanded vetting, the department instructed applicants for H-1B and H-4, as well as F, M and J nonimmigrant visas, to adjust the privacy settings on all social media profiles to “public.”
This change builds on the State Department’s earlier June 18, 2025, guidance establishing comprehensive vetting, including online presence review, for F, M and J applicants, and represents an expansion of that screening approach to the H-1B and H-4 categories. CUPA-HR previously reported on the cable issued to all U.S. diplomatic and consular posts on the issue.
CUPA-HR will continue to update members on relevant federal visa screening guidance and related developments.