Archive · 11 Dec 2025
US Expands Social Media Vetting for Visa Applicants
The US government wants visitors from certain countries and H-1B visa applicants to share their social media history and other personal information when applying for travel waivers or visas.
Right now, people from 42 countries, like Britain and Australia, can visit the US without a visa by filling out a form called ESTA.
The new rule would make it necessary for them to provide their social media posts from the last five years, along with other details like phone numbers and family information.
The public can give their opinions on this proposal for 60 days.
This is part of stricter rules being put in place by the Trump administration to control who enters the country.
Additionally, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will face social media screening, leading to interview cancellations and delays.
Some people are worried about privacy, while the government says it's important for security.
The US plans to make social media history disclosure mandatory for visa-exempt tourists from 42 countries and H-1B, H-4 visa applicants.
The proposal is part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application process and enhanced vetting for visas.
Applicants would need to provide social media history from the last five years, phone numbers, email addresses, family member details, and biometric information.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal, and H-1B, H-4 visa applicants face interview cancellations and delays up to March 2026.
This move is part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on migration, citing national security as a key reason, but raises privacy concerns.
- Who
- Visa-exempt tourists from 42 countries, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants
- What
- Proposed mandatory disclosure of social media history and other personal data for ESTA and visa applications
- When
- Proposal published in the Federal Register on Tuesday; enhanced vetting for H-1B and H-4 applicants starts December 15
- Where
- United States
- Why
- Part of a broader crackdown on migration by the Trump administration, citing national security as a key reason
- Affected Countries
- 42 countries, including Britain, France, Australia, and Japan
- Current Requirement
- Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) waiver
- Proposed New Requirements
- Social media history (last 5 years), phone numbers (last 5 years), email addresses (last 10 years), family member details, biometric information
- Public Comment Period
- 60 days
- Administration
- Trump administration
- Executive Order
- Executive Order 14161 (Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats)
- ESTA Fee
- $40
- ESTA Validity
- Two years, allowing multiple entries
- Enhanced Vetting
- Social media screening for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants
- Impact on H-1B
- Interview cancellations and delays up to March 2026
- Privacy Concerns
- Applicants must set social media accounts to public mode
Sources
US Plans Mandatory Social Media Disclosure For Visa-Exempt Tourists
US mandates review of tourists’ social media activity from the past 5 years
US plans to seek five-year social media history of foreign tourists before entry
US proposes mandatory social media checks for travellers from 42 countries—will it affect the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
‘Insane’ and ‘fascistic’: Outrage erupts over US plan to screen tourists’ social media history
Visitors from 42 countries may soon have to submit 5 years of social media history to enter US
Foreigners allowed to travel to the US without a visa could soon face new social media screening
‘Trump just laid of 1000 of H-1Bs,’ MAGA applauds as US cancels visa interviews over Social Media vetting
US Proposes Social Media Screening for Visa-Free Travellers
US to mandate social media checks for visa-free visitors
US plans to introduce mandatory social media checks for even visa free travellers
How to fill DS-160 as US tightens social media vetting for H-1B, F-1 and other visas
