On December 3, 2025 the U.S. State Department announced that it will expand its vetting and review of online social media accounts for H-1B applicants and their H-4 visa applicants. Similar vetting requirements were already announced in June 2025 for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors and their dependents.
According to the State Department's announcement, visa applicants will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.” Expanded vetting will be used to identify applicants who are inadmissible to the U.S., including those who “pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety.”
Visa issuance or admission into the U.S. may be delayed or even refused if access to social media is not granted, or if any information acquired through the vetting indicates activities inconsistent with the intent of or any details included on a person's visa application. Please read our Assessing Travel Safety page for additional information about travel and visa-related risks.
If you have any concerns about your social media presence or activity and its potential impact on future travel or visa issuance, please contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). ISSS may recommend that you obtain a consultation with a qualified immigration attorney. Also, any person planning on Brown-related travel must register their travel with TravelSafe, and would be eligible to request for a legal consultation with an immigration firm contracted by the University.