U.S. State Department Imposes Stricter Social Media Vetting for H-1B and H-4 Visas Starting December 15

The U.S. Department of State is implementing a significant tightening of verification procedures for applicants seeking H-1B work visas, alongside their spouses applying for H-4 dependent visas. These enhanced screening measures are slated to take effect on December 15, 2025, according to an internal departmental cable dated December 2, 2025.

The core of this new mandate requires all applicants for non-immigrant visas across categories H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J to make all their social media profiles publicly accessible for consular review. The State Department justifies this expansion of oversight by framing every visa appeal as a national security assessment. The stated goal is to ensure applicants do not harbor intentions to harm American citizens or U.S. national interests. This digital footprint examination, which includes platforms like LinkedIn, applies equally to the primary H-1B applicant and any accompanying H-4 family members.

This development is a clear continuation of the administration's policy trajectory toward stricter immigration controls. In June 2025, similar social media vetting was introduced for those applying for student visas. Furthermore, September 2025 saw a dramatic escalation in financial barriers. On September 19, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation establishing an additional fee of $100,000 for the processing of new H-1B petitions, effective September 21, 2025. This figure represents a stark contrast to the previous fees, which generally ranged between $1,700 and $4,500.

Under the new internal directive, consular staff are now mandated to conduct a granular analysis of applicants' professional histories. Special attention must be paid to employment history related to content moderation, fact-checking roles, online security provision, and the dissemination of disinformation. The internal memo from December 2 specifies that if evidence surfaces indicating an applicant's involvement in censoring or attempting to censor protected speech within the United States, consular officers must seek to deny the visa. This approach signals a fundamental pivot, treating high-skilled worker visas primarily through a security lens.

H-1B visas remain vital for American technology employers, with Indian nationals constituting over 70% of the total H-1B visas issued annually. The new requirement for mandatory disclosure of personal online presence places a considerable burden on applicants. While the State Department asserts its commitment to safeguarding Americans from threats, critics highlight the inherent subjectivity in the criteria surrounding censorship and online security, which now heavily influence adjudication decisions. Consequently, as of December 15, 2025, H-1B and H-4 applicants must brace themselves for unprecedented scrutiny of their digital lives by consular services.