United States: State Department Announces Expansion of Online Presence Review For Additional Visa Categories Effective March 30
March 25, 2026
According to a State Department announcement, starting March 30, visa applicants in all A-3, C-3 (if a domestic worker), G-5, H-3, H-4 dependents of H-3, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U classifications will undergo a review of their online presence as part of their visa application process at U.S. consulates abroad.
These applicants will be required to set their social media accounts to “public” and undergo State Department scrutiny of their social media content and activity, and of any other online presence. The agency announcement does not provide details on the standard to be applied in the review, but it is expected that if an applicant’s online presence is found to contain information perceived by the government as derogatory, more extensive security screening may be triggered, resulting in increased delays and possible visa refusal.
An online presence review has been in place for F, M and J visa applicants since late June 2025, as well as for the H-1B and H-4 categories since December 2025.
Employers and affected foreign nationals should be aware that visa appointment slots for these expanded visa categories may become more limited on account of the additional work that consular officers must perform under the online presence review process. The vetting standards also mean that applicants may face an increased likelihood of being flagged for lengthy background checks and longer waits for visa issuance. These factors could mean that visa applicants in these expanded categories are delayed in their ability to enter the United States.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
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