Previously, only students (F, M) and exchange visitors (J visas) were subject to strict checks.
Now, this scrutiny has been extended to H-1B visa applicants and their dependents holding H-4 visas.
The US government has tightened its screening and verification procedures for both H-1B and H-4 applicants.
The State Department emphasized that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, and that applicants are thoroughly vetted using all available information to protect national security.
Social Media Profiles Must Be Public
According to the new directive, all applicants for H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J visas must set the privacy settings of their social media accounts to public.
This rule was announced on Wednesday and will take effect from December 15.
From this date, the online presence of all H-1B applicants and their dependents will be reviewed as part of the visa process.
Trump Administration Further Tightens H-1B Rules
The government stated that every visa decision is considered a national security decision.
This step is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration rules and prevent misuse of H-1B visas.
These visas are commonly used by US technology companies to hire skilled foreign workers.
Indian professionals—especially those in the technology and medical fields—are among the biggest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program.
