As of June 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has expanded its visa application requirements for non-immigrant categories, mandating that all applicants for F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visas disclose their social media activity from the past five years.
The J nonimmigrant visa is the best known of these. It covers work in the US for a limited period, while its J1 iteration allows students and college graduates to enter the U.S. during the summer for work and travel.
An F nonimmigrant visa allows foreign nationals to enter the U.S. temporarily to pursue academic studies at certain institutions. The M nonimmigrant visa is similar, covering education in non-academic or vocational fields.
The new measures do not affect Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visas.
This enhanced screening measure, applicable globally, includes Portuguese nationals in these categories as part of the U.S. government’s efforts to strengthen national security protocols.
The list includes submitting all social media usernames to include major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat, YouTube, and others. If the platform is not listed in the form’s dropdown menu, applicants must select “Other” and manually enter the name.
While the U.S. government does not request passwords, applicants are advised to ensure that their profiles are accessible so that consular officers can review them as part of the vetting process.
Failure to disclose these requirements accurately or attempts to conceal accounts may result in visa denial or a permanent ineligibility ruling.
The U.S. Department of State considers visa adjudication a matter of national security, and this measure builds upon earlier directives dating back to 2017.
Initially targeting high-risk applicants, this policy shift has triggered concern among international applicants, many of whom are reviewing online content they fear may be misinterpreted.
For more information, applicants are encouraged to consult the U.S. Department of State’s official visa information portal or contact their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Official announcement @ US Department of State
PAJ/Staff
