New US visa rules require applicants to make social media public
According to a statement by the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, this new requirement applies to all applicants under the F (academic students), M (vocational or technical training), and J (exchange programme participants) non-immigrant visa categories.
"All applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public'," the embassy said.
It added that this change is aimed at facilitating comprehensive screening procedures.
The embassy explained that social media presence is now part of the vetting process to help US authorities verify an applicant's identity and determine eligibility.
'We use available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the US, including those who pose a threat to US national security,' the embassy said.
The embassy reiterated that obtaining a US visa is a privilege and not a right, and each application is treated as a national security decision.
The US Department of State also announced it would soon resume scheduling appointments for F, M, and J visa applications, after a temporary pause in late May.
Prospective applicants are advised to check the official embassy or consulate websites for appointment availability.
This update builds upon a 2019 requirement for visa applicants to provide their social media identifiers as part of the application process.
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