The United States Embassy in Manila on Tuesday advised applicants for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas to set their social media accounts to public as part of the U.S. government’s vetting process.
According to the embassy, adjusting privacy settings on platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok can assist in verifying an applicant’s identity and determining admissibility under U.S. immigration law.
The embassy reiterated that since 2019, visa applicants have been required to provide social media identifiers when submitting immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms.
The F visa category is intended for academic studies, including language training and seminary programs. The M visa is for non-academic vocational studies, while the J visa is designated for individuals participating in approved exchange visitor programs.
The embassy stated that U.S. authorities review all available information in the visa screening process, including social media activity, to assess potential inadmissibility and national security concerns.
