The U.S. government has launched expanded social media screening for all H‑1B work visa applicants and their dependent H‑4 visa applicants, officials said, as part of enhanced national security vetting effective December 15, 2025.
Under the new policy introduced by the U.S. Department of State, consular officers will now review the online presence and social media activity of H‑1B applicants and their H‑4 dependents as part of the visa screening process. The expanded review builds on existing online vetting measures previously applied only to student and exchange visitor visas such as F, M, and J categories.
To facilitate the new screening, applicants are required to adjust the privacy settings on their social media profiles to “public” so that consular officers can access and evaluate publicly available posts, photos, comments, and other online content. Officials say this is intended to help identify individuals who might pose national security or public safety risks before being granted a visa.
The State Department has stressed that every visa adjudication is a national security decision, and that the expanded social media review will be used alongside other background checks to verify the eligibility and intentions of applicants entering the United States under H‑1B and H‑4 classifications.
The policy shift has already had practical effects at U.S. consulates around the world, with reports of some H‑1B and H‑4 visa interviews scheduled on or after December 15 being cancelled or rescheduled to accommodate the new vetting requirements. Applicants are being advised to prepare for possible delays in processing due to the additional review steps.
Government officials say the move is part of broader efforts to tighten visa screening procedures under the current administration and to ensure that foreign workers and their families meet all eligibility and security standards before entering the United States.
U.S. government ne announce kiya hai ki saare H‑1B work visa applicants aur unke dependent H‑4 visa applicants ke liye expanded social media screening start ho rahi hai, effective 15 December 2025, officials ke mutabik. Yeh step enhanced national security vetting ka hissa hai.
Nayi policy ke under, U.S. Department of State ke consular officers ab applicants ke online presence aur social media activity ko review karenge. Yeh expanded review pehle sirf student aur exchange visitor visas (F, M, J categories) par apply hota tha.
Screening ke liye, applicants ko apne social media profiles ki privacy settings “public” karni hongi, taki consular officers publicly available posts, photos, comments aur other content evaluate kar saken. Officials kehte hain ki iska maksad hai ki aise individuals identify kiye ja saken jo national security ya public safety ke liye risk ho sakte hain.
State Department ne stress kiya hai ki har visa adjudication ek national security decision hai, aur expanded social media review ko background checks ke saath use kiya jayega taaki H‑1B aur H‑4 applicants ki eligibility aur intentions verify ho saken.
Nayi policy ke practical effects already dikh rahe hain, jahan kuch H‑1B aur H‑4 visa interviews jo 15 December ya uske baad schedule the, wo cancel ya reschedule ho gaye hain, taki new vetting requirements accommodate kiye ja saken. Applicants ko processing delays ke liye ready rehne ki advice di gayi hai.
Officials kehte hain ki yeh move visa screening procedures tighten karne ka part hai aur ensure karega ki foreign workers aur unke family members saare eligibility aur security standards meet karen before entering the United States.
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