U.S. visa applicants are being reminded to provide complete and accurate information about their social media accounts as part of the country’s expanded visa screening and national security procedures.
The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka said Tuesday that applicants may be required to provide social media information during the visa application process. The information is used as part of broader screening and vetting procedures aimed at determining whether applicants are eligible to enter the United States and whether they pose any national security or public safety concerns.
Applicants are required to accurately answer questions about their online presence on the relevant visa application forms. The U.S. State Department has required most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants worldwide to provide social media identifiers since 2019.
The department has also expanded its online-presence review in stages. As of October 1, 2026, the review was extended to additional nonimmigrant visa categories, including foreign media representatives holding I visas, as well as TN and TD applicants under the USMCA. Applicants in those categories have been instructed to make their social media profiles publicly accessible for screening.
The State Department says visa officers may use information from available sources when assessing whether an applicant is admissible to the United States. Applicants must therefore ensure that the information they provide is complete and truthful.
Failing to provide required information, deliberately withholding relevant details or providing misleading information could result in a visa refusal and may have further consequences for future visa applications, depending on the circumstances.
The department emphasizes that every visa application is evaluated individually and that applicants must establish their eligibility under U.S. immigration law.
The latest guidance comes as Washington continues to expand its visa screening and vetting procedures, with national security and public safety cited as central considerations in the visa adjudication process.
