DOS Announces “Online Presence” Screening for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants

As of December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will officially begin enhanced screening and vetting of those applying for an H-1B or H-4 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad by reviewing the social media profiles of such applicants. The DOS has been engaging in these additional social media checks for visa applicants in the F, M, and J categories since June 2025, and has now announced that it is expanding its reach to H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, which are H-1B workers and their immediate family members in H-4 status. Per the recent announcement, the DOS instructs that “all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public.’”

Accordingly, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will now need to be aware of these enhanced measures. Such individuals should carefully consider international travel if a new visa is required in light of online presence checks, and employers should be aware of the increased risk of H-1B and H-4 visa applicants encountering delays or possible denials at the Embassy/Consulate.