Important Update for Visa Applicants – Social Media Settings

The U.S. Department of State has revised its social media review policy and is now requiring a complete social media review of all applicants.

Effective immediately, visa applicants are strongly advised to ensure that all social media profiles are set to “public” in advance of their visa interviews. Consular officers may review publicly available online information as part of the visa adjudication process.

Failure to make social media content accessible could result in delays in visa processing or additional administrative review.

What visa applicants should do:
• Review all social media accounts used within the past several years.
• Adjust privacy settings to make profiles and content publicly viewable prior to visa interviews.
• Ensure that all information is accurate and consistent with underlying visa applications.

Please note that this guidance applies broadly to visa applicants and is intended to help avoid unnecessary processing delays.

If you have any questions about how this update may affect your specific case, please do not hesitate to contact our office.