US Expands Digital Screening for H-1B Visa Applicants by Requiring Public Social Media Profiles

The United States government will soon mandate that individuals applying for H-1B visas make their social media accounts public for review, according to a State Department representative speaking to Business Insider.

Starting on December 15, officials from consulates around the globe will implement 'online presence evaluations' for all H-1B visa applicants and those on H-4 dependent visas, the spokesperson explained.

Described by the department as part of the Trump administration's initiative to 'safeguard our nation and its citizens,' this new mandate is set to become one of the widest applications of digital scrutiny ever enforced on international workers.

Applicants will need to modify their privacy settings to allow 'public' access on all social media services, thus enabling officials to scrutinize posts, connections, job details, and additional online conduct.

This approach aligns with existing procedures the department employs for certain categories of foreign students and exchange participants.

However, the current regulation extends this vetting practice to one of the primary visa routes in the American labor force, vastly expanding its reach.

Referring to visas as 'a privilege, not a right,' the spokesperson insisted that sufficient time would be allocated to ensure that no applicant presents a threat to the safety and security of the United States.

The representative abstained from discussing the existence of any internal State Department transmission that might impose additional verification requirements, yet confirmed the comprehensive nature of this policy for applicants 'of all nationalities.'

Broader Context of H-1B Visa System Reforms

This step intensifies a wider transformation of the H-1B framework under President Donald Trump's leadership.

In September, Trump enacted an executive order that introduced a $100,000 charge on new H-1B visa submissions. The action rattled Silicon Valley and resulted in employers cautioning overseas workers against travel.

Termed as an attempt to address what the administration identifies as 'system misuse,' the fee has sparked confusion and robust objection, leading to a sustained legal dispute concerning the president's capacity to enforce such fees.

The H-1B scheme is integral for US companies hiring highly skilled international professionals in areas like engineering, software development, biotechnology, and financial services—sectors that heavily depend on global expertise.

Prominent technology giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, Apple, Intel, and Nvidia cumulatively support tens of thousands of H-1B positions annually.