US to expand social media checks to more visa categories from March 30

The United States will expand its visa screening process to include social media and online presence checks for additional visa categories from March 30, according to a State Department announcement. The move will apply to applicants at US consulates abroad.

Applicants under visa categories including A-3, C-3 (domestic workers), G-5, H-3, H-4 dependents of H-3, K visas, Q, R, S, T and U will now undergo mandatory review of their online activity as part of the application process.

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Under the new requirement, applicants must set their social media accounts to “public” for scrutiny. The State Department will review social media content, activity and other online presence as part of background checks.

Few visas already under social media screening

The expanded checks build on an existing system already in place for student and exchange visas (F, M, J) since June 2025 and for H-1B and H-4 visas since December 2025.

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Under this earlier rollout, applicants in these categories were already required to disclose and allow review of their social media activity as part of the visa process. The extension of the rule to more visa types signals a wider application of the same screening framework across US immigration channels.