U.S. Imposes Stricter Visa Rules, Social Media Screening to Begin March 30

In a statement, the U.S. Department of State said the new process applies to a large portion of non-immigrant visas, including:

• A-3 and C-3: Domestic workers

• G-5 and H-3: Trainees

• H-4: Dependents of H-3 visa holders

• K: Fiancés and spouses

• Other categories: Q, R, S, T, U, F, M, and J

Under the new rules, applicants must keep their social media profiles public. Consular officers will review online content, activity, and digital records during background checks. The goal is to gather additional information to identify applicants who may pose a risk to U.S. national or public security.

Partial implementation of this system began in June 2025 for student and exchange visas (A, M, and J) and in December 2025 for H-1B workers.

In parallel, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed raising the minimum wages for foreign workers under H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM programs. Updating the 20-year-old four-tier wage system could increase the average annual salary of foreign workers by approximately $14,000.