Social media requirement for US visa

The United States implemented a comprehensive change to its visa application system with a new decision made on May 30, 2025. With this latest change, visa application, payment, and appointment procedures will now be handled through a single digital platform.

According to the news in Sözcü , the US Embassy in Ankara also announced the details of the social media requirement for visas.

“ Effective immediately, all applicants for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas will be required to set the privacy settings on all personal social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate the necessary vetting to prove their identity and admissibility to the United States,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

Types F, M, and J visas are issued to students and exchange program participants. Tourist visits and other visa types are not covered by this decision.

The US State Department announced this new step in June, stating, "A US visa is a privilege, not a right." The statement stated that all visa applicants' data would be reviewed to eliminate threats to US national security. Following this announcement on June 18, US embassies in various countries announced the implementation of this measure at separate times.