The U.S. Embassy in Mexico announced that starting March 30, 2026, the State Department will expand the mandatory review of social media and online presence for various non-immigrant visa categories that were previously not subject to this scrutiny. This digital surveillance measure was already applied to H-1B visa applicants, as well as to student and exchange categories F, M, and J. However, the new provision extends this requirement to A-3 and G-5 visa applicants for domestic employees; H-3 for trainees and their H-4 dependents; the K-1, K-2, K-3 categories for fiancés and spouses; as well as Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, and U visas, focused on cultural exchanges and humanitarian protection and aid. The U.S. mission emphasized and directly warned that “your social media accounts must remain public during your visa application process” and stressed: “having them private can delay your process.” This policy responds to a tightening of entry filters under the premise of border protection and the integrity of the immigration system. “Every visa decision is a national security decision,” the U.S. Embassy posted. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” they added.
