US begins social media checks for more visa categories on March 30

The US is set to expand social media checks for more visa applicants starting March 30. The new rule will apply to people applying for certain nonimmigrant visas at US consulates abroad.

According to the US State Department, applicants in several visa categories will now be required to undergo online presence reviews. These include  A-3, C-3 (domestic workers), G-5, H-3, H-4 dependents of H-3, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U visa applicants. These are in addition to H-1B workers, students, and exchange visitors who are already subject to social media screening.

To help with this process, applicants are asked to change the privacy setting of their social media accounts to ‘public’ or ‘open’, which will allow officials to review their online activity during visa screening.

The US government said it uses all available information to identify applicants who may be a threat to national security or public safety. Officials added that every visa decision is treated as a national security matter.

The new rule may affect thousands of applicants worldwide. People applying for these visas will need to be careful about what they post online, as their social media activity could influence the visa decision.

The State Department emphasised that a US visa is a privilege, not a right. Applicants must prove they meet the requirements and that they plan to follow the rules of their visa while staying in the United States.