On December 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that, effective December 15, 2025, it will require that an "online presence review be conducted" for all H-1B visa sticker applicants and their dependents applying for an H-4 visa sticker. Note that DOS already conducts such reviews for F-, J-, and M-visas applicants. DOS guidance instructs applicants for an H-1B, H-4, F-, J-, or M-visa sticker "to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public'” when applying for a new visa sticker.
It is expected that the process for H-1B and H-4 visa applications at the embassy or consulate may take longer as a result of this additional screening. Applicants are therefore advised to apply for their visa stamps as early as possible to accommodate potential delays.