BANGKOK, THAILAND – The US Embassy in Bangkok announced that many US visa applicants must immediately set their social media accounts to public for screening or risk processing delays.
New requirement from the US Embassy in Bangkok
The US Embassy in Bangkok stated on Monday that all US visa applicants had to switch their social media accounts to “public” for screening. The mission said the rule took effect immediately and had been announced via its Facebook page.
According to the embassy, the adjustment of privacy settings was now part of the standard documentation required for certain visa categories. Applicants were instructed to ensure that all relevant profiles could be viewed without restriction during the assessment period.
Purpose: verifying identity and admissibility
The embassy said the public visibility of accounts was intended to enable checks confirming the identity of applicants. The screening was also described as a tool to assess the “legal admissibility” of travelers to the United States under US law.
Officials framed the measure as part of efforts to ensure that information submitted in visa applications was accurate and consistent. The embassy emphasized that the review was carried out within the framework of applicable US regulations.
Visa categories covered by the rule
According to the announcement, the requirement applied to applicants for A-3, C-3 visas when employed as domestic workers, and G-5 visas. It also covered H1-B, H-3 and the dependent H-4 visas linked to H-1B and H-3 holders.
Further non-immigrant categories listed included F, M, J, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T and U visas, for which social media privacy settings likewise had to be changed. Applicants in these groups were told to ensure that all of their social media accounts were accessible for the duration of the visa review.
Consequences for non-compliance
The embassy explained that applicants had to set the privacy settings on all social media accounts to “public” to facilitate the necessary checks. Those who failed to comply were warned they should expect delays in the processing of their visa applications.
The message indicated that the change applied broadly and with immediate effect, without specifying any exceptions. Processing times could therefore differ between applicants who followed the instruction and those who chose not to make their profiles public.
Mixed reactions and privacy concerns
Reactions under the embassy’s Facebook post were mixed, with many users criticizing the move as an intrusion into privacy and a threat to civil rights. Commenters expressed concern that sensitive personal information could be exposed beyond the visa process.
Others raised questions about transparency, asking how the collected data would be used and stored. Some users also wanted to know what would happen to applicants who did not maintain any social media accounts at all.
Support for stricter checks and reference to US law
A smaller share of commenters voiced support for tighter screening within the visa process. They argued that closer scrutiny of online activity could enhance security and help identify potential risks before travel.
The embassy itself mainly pointed to the purpose of the new screening within the context of US law. It underlined that the public setting of social media accounts was intended to support the assessment of identity and admissibility rather than to target specific groups of applicants.