Expanded Social Media Vetting for F, M, and J Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants

On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State released an Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants, lifting its temporary pause on visa appointments for F, M, and J visa applicants with the caveat that F,M, and J visa applicants will now undergo comprehensive vetting of their social media profiles.

Who Is Impacted by this Announcement?

This announcement affects F, M, and J visa applicants with pending visa applications or future visa appointments.

Comprehensive Digital Vetting

F, M, and J visa applicants must set the privacy settings on all social media accounts to “public” to ease the review of their digital footprints by visa officers.

Purpose of Expanded Social Media Vetting

The stated goal of expanded social media screening is to identify individuals who are perceived as hostile toward the United States or support antisemitic or violent viewpoints. This policy is consistent with the Trump Administration’s January 20, 2025 Executive Order 14161 Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats and Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism from January 29, 2025.

Impact of Announcement

Visa applicants must already provide usernames for all social media accounts. With this new announcement, F, M, and J applicants must also make public, all of their social media accounts and online platforms. Unfortunately, this is an intrusion of privacy, but this is something that F, M, and J visa applicants will need to do at least for the short period that they are going through the U.S. visa application process. Refusal to cooperate can result in a visa denial. Please note that you have the option to switch your privacy settings back to private after the interview. You also have the option to delete your profiles.

Please expect fewer visa appointment slots as well as delays in visa processing due to the large backlog of F, M, and J visa applicants who were temporarily denied visas. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has also reported instances of denials where F, M, and J applicants have not made their profiles public.

What to expect at the consular interview

The consular officer will perform a standard visa interview. At the end of the interview, the officers will issue a notice of refusal under 221(g). This is not a visa denial, it is simply the process by which they hold over a decision while reviewing the visa applicant’s social media. After reviewing the applicant’s social media, the consulate will email the applicant about the decision in the case as well as how they will return the applicant’s passport.

McCown & Evans will continue to monitor and advise on any new developments. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your attorney at McCown & Evans with any questions. If you are a new client, please contact us at (415)432-5300 or info@mccownevans.com.