Applying for US Visa? Keep your Instagram, FB, X public; adjust privacy settings

United States: Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M or J non-immigrant visa are asked to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law.

On June 19, the US State Department resumed processing student visa applications after a brief suspension caused by the introduction of stricter screening procedures. Under the updated guidelines, all applicants must now grant access to their public social media profiles for official review.

“New applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts to ‘public’ and allow them to be reviewed may be rejected. It said a refusal to do so could be a sign they are trying to evade the requirement or hide their online activity,” the department wrote in a statement.

Interviews had paused to introduce rigorous vetting

Visa interviews for F-1, M-1, and J-1 categories have restarted, with new appointments being scheduled globally.

The temporary pause last month was attributed to the need for more rigorous vetting, especially focusing on applicants’ online presence. In light of this, several overseas education consultancies have begun warning students to be extra cautious about their social media activity. This heightened level of scrutiny reflects the Trump administration’s broader agenda to tighten immigration regulations, with particular focus on international students.

Since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms.

Flagging any anti-US government sentiments

It is said that the officers will evaluate posts and activity to flag any anti-US government sentiments or content critical of American people, institutions, culture or founding principles.

“The increased social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person trying to come to our country,” the department wrote in a statement.