New US Visa Requirement Mandates Public Social Media Accounts for Applicants
US visa applicants must make social media accounts public. Non-immigrant visa applicants must comply with new social media visibility rules to enhance vetting processes.
As of June 23, 2025, applicants for three categories of non-immigrant visas to the United States must adjust their social media privacy settings to 'public'.
This requirement, implemented by the US Embassy in Thailand, applies specifically to individuals seeking F, M, or J visas.
The F visa is designated for academic students, the M visa is intended for vocational students engaged in training programs, and the J visa is available for participants in exchange visitor programs.
The embassy stated that these changes are aimed at improving the vetting process to confirm the identity and admissibility of visa applicants under US immigration law.
In conjunction with this new requirement, applicants are also required to adhere to a six-step process to obtain these visas.
This process begins with securing acceptance into an academic or vocational program at a US institution and culminates in an interview at the US embassy.
This initiative reflects a broader trend in US immigration policy where transparency regarding applicants' online activity is increasingly emphasized as a means of maintaining security.
The mandate to make social media accounts public is expected to impact thousands of applicants who wish to pursue educational and training opportunities in the United States.
This requirement, implemented by the US Embassy in Thailand, applies specifically to individuals seeking F, M, or J visas.
The F visa is designated for academic students, the M visa is intended for vocational students engaged in training programs, and the J visa is available for participants in exchange visitor programs.
The embassy stated that these changes are aimed at improving the vetting process to confirm the identity and admissibility of visa applicants under US immigration law.
In conjunction with this new requirement, applicants are also required to adhere to a six-step process to obtain these visas.
This process begins with securing acceptance into an academic or vocational program at a US institution and culminates in an interview at the US embassy.
This initiative reflects a broader trend in US immigration policy where transparency regarding applicants' online activity is increasingly emphasized as a means of maintaining security.
The mandate to make social media accounts public is expected to impact thousands of applicants who wish to pursue educational and training opportunities in the United States.
