The Consular Section is set to resume scheduling appointments for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications. Applicants are advised to regularly check the Embassy website for available appointment slots.
Effective immediately, all applicants for these visa categories must adjust their social media account privacy settings to 'public'. This measure aims to facilitate the vetting process necessary to confirm the identity and admissibility of individuals under U.S. law.
According to the Consular Section, "We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security." Since 2019, providing social media identifiers has been a requirement on both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms.
Applicants must list all social media usernames or handles they have used in the past five years on the DS-160 visa application form. They are required to certify that the information provided is accurate before submission. Failure to include this information could result in visa denial and potential ineligibility for future visas.