US Visa Social Media Check
Free, Before Your Interview
See exactly what US visa officers can see on your public social media profiles. AI-powered analysis identifies risks, inconsistencies, and red flags before they become problems.
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What a US visa social media check looks at
US social media vetting has four parts. The tool checks your public profiles against each of them, logged out — the officer's view.
1
Disclosure: every handle from the last five years
The DS-160 asks for every username you used on each listed platform in the past five years — old, dormant and deleted accounts included. An account the officer finds that you did not list is treated as misrepresentation. The check lists the public profiles tied to your name so the form is complete.
2
Consistency with your application
Officers compare what your profiles say about your work, study, travel, family and plans with your DS-160 and petition. A mismatched job title, a contradicting location or a relationship status that differs from the form is the most common real-world problem — not embarrassing photos.
3
Content an officer is told to weigh
Signals of immigration intent or unauthorized work, and — per USCIS guidance since April 2025 — content endorsing or promoting designated terrorist organizations or antisemitic terrorism. Reposts and likes can count, not only your own posts.
4
Whether your profiles are public when they look
F, M and J applicants (since June 2025) and H-1B and H-4 applicants (since December 15, 2025) must set profiles to public for the online-presence review; on March 30, 2026 the regime was extended to about 14 more categories, including K-1. A locked account at review time can itself delay a case.
Social media rules by US visa type
What applies to you depends on your visa. Each rule links to its official source.
F-1 · F-1 student
Profiles must be publicSince June 2025, F, M and J applicants must set every social media profile to public, and consular officers review the applicant's entire online presence — on top of the DS-160's five years of handles.
- Immigration intent: F-1 is a nonimmigrant visa. Posts about staying permanently or "never going back" contradict the temporary intent you assert at the interview.
- Unauthorized work: Freelance offers, client work or paid gigs read as intent to break F-1 work limits.
- Profiles locked at review time: A private account when the officer checks can itself delay the case — keep disclosed profiles public until the visa is issued.
Rule: F, M & J applicants must set profiles to public (June 2025) — source: U.S. Department of State
J-1 · J-1 exchange visitor
Profiles must be publicJ-1 applicants fall under the same June 2025 rule as students: profiles set to public and a full online-presence review, plus the DS-160 handle disclosure.
- Intent to stay: Many J-1 categories carry a two-year home-residency expectation; US job hunting or "moving for good" posts contradict the exchange purpose.
- Work outside the program: J-1 authorizes the activity on your DS-2019 — side gigs and freelance services on your profiles read as program violations.
Rule: F, M & J applicants must set profiles to public (June 2025) — source: U.S. Department of State
H-1B · H-1B specialty worker
Profiles must be publicEffective December 15, 2025, H-1B applicants must also set all accounts to public and expect a full online-presence review. It has been causing appointment reschedules and longer processing, so prepare early.
- A profile that contradicts the petition: LinkedIn titles, employers, dates or worksite that differ from the petition and DS-160 are the most common inconsistency.
- Moonlighting: H-1B covers work for the sponsoring employer only; advertised freelance work or a side business is a documented red-flag category.
Rule: Public-profile vetting extended to H-1B & H-4 (December 2025) — source: U.S. Department of State
H-4 · H-4 spouse / dependent
Profiles must be publicThe December 15, 2025 expansion names H-4 dependents alongside H-1B: every applying family member sets profiles to public, and each file is reviewed on its own — the principal's approval does not cover the spouse.
- Unauthorized-work signals: Without an EAD, H-4 holders cannot work. A profile advertising services, an online shop or "DM for orders" reads as employment.
- Relationship consistency: H-4 rests on the marriage; public content that contradicts the timeline or household invites scrutiny of the whole family's status.
Rule: Public-profile vetting extended to H-1B & H-4 (December 2025) — source: U.S. Department of State
B1/B2 · B1/B2 visitor
No public-profile mandateNo public-profile mandate applies to B1/B2 visitors. The DS-160 still requires five years of handles, and officers can review whatever is public.
- Immigration intent: B1/B2 requires showing you will return. Posts about moving to the US or a US job search contradict that.
- Work during the "visit": Arranging paid work or client gigs for the trip is treated as intent to work without authorization.
Rule: DS-160 requires 5 years of social media handles (In force) — source: U.S. Department of State (DS-160)
Also covered: TN / TD, K-1, L-1, O-1, ESTA, UK and Schengen visas — pick yours on the first step.
Platforms We Check
The profiles officers look at, plus an open-web search of your name
US Visa Social Media Check FAQ
What is a US visa social media check?
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Which US visas require public social media profiles?
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Should I delete posts or accounts before the interview?
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