US visa social media vetting to expand, report says

The US government plans to expand social media vetting for visa applicants, including foreign journalists, the Daily Signal reported Thursday, August 6.

The Daily Signal said it had obtained an internal memo outlining a State Department plan that would require applicants for more types of visas to make their social media accounts public or open.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted the Daily Signal article on X. Asked about the report, a State Department spokesperson said the department constantly reviews screening and vetting procedures worldwide to protect US national security and public safety.

The United States already requires applicants in several visa categories, including student visas, to make their accounts public. The Daily Signal said the expansion would apply to foreign media representatives and some nationals from Mexico and Canada.

The Trump administration finalized rules last month imposing stricter limits on how long foreign students and journalists can stay in the United States. Under a change that could take effect as soon as September, foreign students would be admitted for the length of their academic program up to a maximum of four years, while foreign journalists would be limited to 240-day stays but could apply for extensions of similar length.