On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that it will expand its online presence review requirement to all H-1B principal applicants and H-4 dependents, effective December 15, 2025. DOS had already imposed similar screening on F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visa applicants earlier in the year.
Official DOS notices:
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H-1B/H-4 announcement:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/announcement-of-expanded-screening-and-vetting-for-h-1b-and-dependent-h-4-visa-applicants.html -
Earlier F/M/J announcement (June 18, 2025):
https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/06/announcement-of-expanded-screening-and-vetting-for-visa-applicants
Under these policies, H-1B and H-4 applicants – along with F, M, and J applicants already covered – are instructed to set their social media accounts to “public” so consular officers can review online content as part of security vetting.
According to reporting on an internal State Department cable, consular officers are directed to review LinkedIn profiles and resumes for H-1B/H-4 applicants (and their accompanying family members). Officers are told to look at whether applicants or family members have worked in areas such as misinformation, disinformation, fact-checking, compliance, content moderation, and online safety, among others. If an officer finds evidence that an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, the cable instructs them to consider a finding of ineligibility under the INA.
Public reporting on the cable, for anyone who wants to read more detail:
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Reuters summary of the cable:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-orders-enhanced-vetting-applicants-h-1b-visa-2025-12-04/
Key takeaways:
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DOS is now explicitly extending online presence review to H-1B and H-4 applicants, on top of F/M/J.
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Applicants in these categories are being told to make social media profiles public to facilitate vetting.
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Consular officers are being instructed to scrutinize work involving content moderation, misinformation/disinformation, fact-checking, compliance, and online safety.
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The cable frames participation in “censorship” of protected U.S. expression as a potential basis for visa ineligibility.
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All of this is likely to add friction and possible delays for cases involving substantial online activity.
If you’re in one of these categories, it is important to understand that consular officers may review your public online presence and compare it against your DS-160, employment history, and other supporting documents.
This post is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship.