On March 25, 2026, the US Department of State (“DOS”) announced that beginning March 30, it is expanding its review of applicants’ online presence to include several additional nonimmigrant visa categories. The expanded screening update includes those applying for A-3, C-3 (for domestic workers), G-5, H-3 (and H-4 dependents of H-3 holders), K visas (K-1, K-2, K-3), as well as Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U visas. Visa applicants under these categories will now undergo a review of their publicly available social media and online activity. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.”
Read moreStudent‑visa Applicants Now Required to Unlock Social Media and This Could Expand to All Nonimmigrant Visas
On June 18, 2025, the US Department of State (“DOS”) issued a statement announcing it is resuming visa services for foreign students with an updated social media policy. We had previously covered the issues students faced and the announcement by DOS on May 27, 2025 that they would not be scheduling new appointments for student visas. Under the new guidelines, which are expected to be implemented within five business days all F‑1, M‑1, and J‑1 visa applicants are instructed to set their social media profiles to “public.” The purpose? Consular officers are now expected to review “applicants’ entire online presence”, not just social media bios.
Read morePremium Processing Extended to Applicants Seeking to Change into F, M, or J Nonimmigrant Status
As part of its campaign to expand premium processing service, United Sates Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced it will begin to offer premium processing for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, to change into F, M, or J Nonimmigrant Status. USCIS will offer premium processing to those seeking to change their status to F, M, or J in phases according to the following schedule:
As of June 13, 2023, USCIS is accepting premium processing requests for currently pending I-539 applications for those seeking to change status to F-1, F-2, M-1, J-1, or J-2 status.
Beginning June 26, 2023, the agency will accept I-907 requests for premium processing requests from applicants filing new I-539 applications to change status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status.