The U.S. Department of State has announced that beginning December 15, 2025, all applicants for H-1B specialty-occupation visas and their H-4 dependents will be subject to mandatory social-media screening.

This extends enhanced online vetting already applied to student (F/M) and exchange-visitor (J) visa categories.

Under the new rule, applicants must set all social-media profiles to “public” during the visa process to enable review. Consular officers will examine posts, likes, shares, and follower activity as part of the adjudication process.

The State Department emphasized that visa decisions are national-security determinations and that “all available information” will be used to assess whether an applicant is inadmissible or poses a threat to U.S. security or public safety.

The expansion brings the H-1B program — the primary pathway for U.S. tech companies to hire foreign engineers, data scientists, doctors, and other skilled professionals — in line with the stricter vetting standards already in place for academic and cultural-exchange visas.

The announcement comes amid surging demand for H-1B visas and continued emphasis by the Trump administration on rigorous screening of skilled-worker programs. Officials say the measure is designed to strengthen oversight and ensure that applicants meet both professional and security requirements.