More Visa Categories Subject to Enhanced Social Media Vetting

 

Effective March 30, 2026, visa applicants under the following categories will be subject to enhanced social media vetting:

  • A-3 (personal employees of diplomats and foreign government officials on A-1 and A-2 visas)

  • C-3 (transit visa for personal employees of a foreign government official)

  • G-5 (personal employees of diplomats who work for international organizations, such as the UN and World Bank)

  • H-3 (trainee visa)

  • H-4 dependents of H-3 visa holders

  • K-1 (fiance visa)

  • K-2 (minor child of a fiancee on a K-1 visa)

  • K-3 (spouse of a US citizen)

  • Q (participants in international cultural exchange programs)

  • R-1 (religious workers)

  • R-2 (spouses and unmarried children under 21 of R-1 religious worker)

  • S (witness or informants in the investigation or prosecution of criminal or terrorist organizations)

  • T (victims of severe human trafficking)

  • U (victims of certain criminal offenses who help law enforcement with prosecution).

This expansion builds on the earlier directives covering H-1B applicants and H-4 dependents in December 2025 and F, M, and J applicants in June 2025.

Visa applicants in the specified categories must set their privacy settings on all their social media profiles to “public” or “open” for DOS screening. The DOS will use the available information to identify applicants who may pose a threat to national security or public safety.

The expansion of enhanced social media vetting to more visa categories indicates that heightened scrutiny of foreign nationals seeking entry to the United States will continue, and that further delays in visa processing also will continue, particularly for applicants who have extensive online activity or presence.

We are monitoring this evolving situation and will provide updates as they become available.

The alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.

 
Nadia Yakoob