The State Department announced that as of December 15, 2025, applicants for H-1B and H-4 (dependent) visas at US consular posts will undergo advanced screening of their online presence.  This expanded screening is already in place for those applying for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas as of June 2025.  This new process will apply even if the applicant is renewing a previously-issued visa.  The Department instructs those applying for H-1B/H-4 visas to set their social media profiles to “public” to facilitate the review process.  This will likely cause delays for those applying for H-1B/H-4 visas, especially those who already have appointments scheduled in December and January while they are visiting their home countries during the holidays and need new visas in their passports in order to return to the United States.  While no standard of review has been announced, any social media comments that may be perceived as derogatory to the US government or US government officials may trigger additional screening that will likely further delay visa issuance.

As the State Department fine tunes this vetting process, it is expected that applicants for other types of nonimmigrant visas will be added to those subject to additional review.