DOS Expands Social Media & Online Presence Review to All H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants

On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced a significant expansion of its online-presence screening protocols. Effective December 15, 2025, all H-1B principal applicants and H-4 dependents will be subject to mandatory social-media and online-presence review as part of the visa adjudication process. DOS already implemented similar requirements for F, M, and J visa categories earlier this year. The new directive now extends these heightened vetting measures to the H-1B/H-4 population.

What’s New?

• Public Social Media Required: Applicants in H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J categories are now instructed to ensure that their social-media accounts are set to public so that consular officers can review online content during security vetting.
• LinkedIn & Resume Review: According to reporting from Reuters, a DOS cable directs consular officers to review LinkedIn profiles and resumes for H-1B and H-4 applicants to determine whether they have “worked in areas that include activities such as misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety, among others.”
• Potential Ineligibility Findings: The cable further instructs officers that if they “uncover evidence suggesting an applicant engaged in censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, [they] should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible” for visa issuance.
• National Security Emphasis: DOS has reiterated that every visa adjudication is treated as a national security decision, and online presence will now be a routine part of that assessment.

What to expect?

• Longer Processing Times: Consulates anticipate longer processing times under the expanded screening requirements. Applicants whose online presence raises concerns may be subject to follow-up interviews, administrative processing, or even visa refusals.
• Travel & Scheduling Impacts: Applicants and their employers should plan for reduced appointment availability, longer visa turnaround times, and an increased risk of travel disruptions for H-1B employees and dependents. Travelers should review and reconcile their online presence before booking international travel and/or visa appointments.