Starting December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will extend its enhanced social media vetting to H-1B specialty-occupation workers and their H-4 dependent family members. This newest expansion of the government’s online presence screening practices for foreign nationals applies to both new visa applications and renewals.
While DOS has not released detailed standards governing how consular officials will evaluate online content for H-1B and H-4 applicants, it is anticipated that it will be in line with the Department’s June 2025 rollout of enhanced social media vetting for F, J, and M applicants. In its initial implementation, DOS instructed applicants to make their social media accounts publicly viewable and emphasized that consular officers may review online activity as part of the national security and eligibility assessment underlying every visa adjudication.
The DS-160 already requires most nonimmigrant visa applicants to list all social media identifiers or usernames used during the past five years. A lack of accessible online presence or refusal to make accounts public may be treated as a warning sign, and a history of political activism, while not necessarily grounds for denial, may contribute to extended processing.
In line with current vetting practices for F, J, and M applicants, consular officers will likely use the same online review tools to assess credibility, verify consistency with the offered employment, and evaluate compliance with past immigration status. Officers may also review online activity for indicators of potential security risks, including expressions of hostility toward U.S. institutions, affiliations that could implicate national-security concerns, or content that suggests involvement in or sympathy for unlawful conduct. Social media content that appears inconsistent with an applicant’s job title, employer affiliation, work location, prior status history, or that raises such security concerns may trigger follow-up questioning or 221(g) administrative processing.
Further, there have also been recent reports of H-1B visa refusals issued under § 214(b) based on perceived credibility issues—even though H-1B status is a dual-intent category that should not be subject to traditional nonimmigrant-intent denials. While § 214(b) is normally used to refuse visas that require strong ties abroad, consular officers may invoke it for H-1B applicants when social-media review uncovers inconsistencies in employment information, questions about prior status compliance, or other credibility concerns, potentially increasing denial risks under the expanded vetting framework.
Employers and affected H applicants should anticipate longer processing times, lengthy background checks, and greater emphasis on the consistency between their stated employment, immigration history, online presence, and any potential security-related indicators.
If you are a foreign national or an employer seeking more guidance on these social media vetting practices, please reach out to your Klasko attorney or request a consultation here.
The material contained in this alert does not constitute direct legal advice and is for informational purposes only. An attorney-client relationship is not presumed or intended by receipt or review of this presentation. The information provided should never replace informed counsel when specific immigration-related guidance is needed.
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