Washington DC — The US government has introduced a major change to the visa screening process for skilled workers and their dependents. Starting December 15, applicants for H-1B visa and dependent H-4 visa must undergo mandatory social media checks before visa approval.
The directive from the United States Department of State (US DoS) requires H-1B and H-4 applicants to list all social media accounts they have used in the last five years on their visa application form. They must also switch privacy settings from private to public so consular officers can review their online activity.
US officials say they will examine posts, connections, employment history, and other online footprints. They intend to flag any content that could pose a security risk — such as misinformation, extremist content, or involvement in content moderation.
For many Indian IT professionals and their families, this move comes as a shock. Indians hold a substantial share of H-1B and H-4 visas granted by the US annually. Experts expect this enhanced scrutiny to delay processing times, lead to re-interviews, or even visa rejections if consular officers find discrepancies between online data and visa application details.
Some critics argue that the policy infringes on privacy and free speech. Supporters of the rule, however, claim that national security and safeguarding public safety outweigh those concerns. The US government frames visa approval as a privilege, not a right, and says it must use “all available information” to assess applicant eligibility.
With the new rule coming into effect soon, many prospective applicants and dependent families are scrambling. They need to review past social media activity, remove or hide controversial posts, and ensure compliance with the new requirements ahead of their visa interviews.
