NON-IMMIGRANT visa applicants to the US are now required to make their social media accounts public, according to an announcement from the US Embassy in the Philippines Tuesday, June 24. 

In an advisory posted on their social media platforms, the US Embassy said that this new rule applies to all individuals with pending applications for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa. 

“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States,” they said. 

The F, M, and J visa categories are typically granted to international students, vocational trainees, and exchange visitors participating in academic or cultural programs in the US.

This move comes as the US State Department resumes processing for student and exchange visa applications, which had previously faced suspensions and delays.

Under the updated screening measures, consular officers may review applicants’ public social media posts and activity for any content that could be perceived as hostile toward the United States—its government, values, or institutions.

This requirement follows a broader policy first introduced by the US government in 2019, when visa applicants were required to submit their social media usernames. 

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security,” said the US Embassy. 

In a related development, the US Department of Homeland Security recently issued a bulletin noting a “heightened threat environment” in the country, citing tensions related to Iran’s nuclear program. 

The agency also warned of the potential for low-level cyberattacks from pro-Iranian groups or individuals, contributing to increased caution in security and immigration protocols.