The United States is set to expand social media screening for additional categories of visa applicants in order to strengthen immigration vetting and national security.
According to reports, the U.S. State Department plans to require more visa applicants including foreign journalists and certain applicants from Mexico and Canada to make their social media accounts public during the visa application process.
The proposed expansion was made clear after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a report by The Daily Signal, which cited an internal State Department memo outlining the changes.
While the State Department did not confirm the specific details of the memo, it said it continuously reviews its screening procedures to ensure visa applicants meet U.S. security requirements.
“Online presence vetting is about applicants demonstrating their eligibility to receive a visa under U.S. law and ensuring that no individual poses a risk to the safety and security of the United States” – A State Department spokesperson
The United States already requires applicants in several visa categories, including student visas, to make their social media profiles accessible for review.
The policy would extend similar requirements to additional visa categories, including foreign media representatives and selected applicants from neighboring countries. The current administration has already finalized regulations limiting the duration of stay for foreign students and journalists, with the new rules expected to take effect as early as September.
Meanwhile, the State Department has not announced when the expanded social media vetting policy will officially begin.
