State Department Expands Online‑Presence Checks to H‑1B/H‑4 Applicants Starting December 15, 2025
The U.S. State Department recently announced that beginning December 15, 2025, the Embassies/Consulates will expand its online‑presence review requirement to cover all H‑1B visa applicants and their H‑4 dependents. This change builds on existing vetting for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applicants (students and exchange visitors).
Applicants in these categories must ensure their social media profiles are set to “public” to allow review:
H‑1B (specialty‑occupation workers)
H‑4 (dependents of H‑1B holders)
F, M, and J (students and exchange visitors)
New free‑speech vetting policy
An internal Department of State cable (as reported in the media) instructs consular officers to:
Review resumes and LinkedIn profiles for H‑1B applicants and their dependents
Flag applicants who have held positions involving content moderation, misinformation/disinformation control, fact‑checking, compliance, or online safety
Seek a finding of visa ineligibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act where evidence indicates an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship of protected expression in the United States.
The cable notes heightened scrutiny for H‑1B applicants because many work in technology and social‑media sectors, including companies accused of suppressing speech.
Key takeaways for applicants
Make social media accounts public
Ensure online profiles accurately reflect your identity and activities
Expect potential additional scrutiny during the visa application process
Vong Law Group anticipates that these changes will affect other visa categories as the Dept. of State reviews its visa vetting processes. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
