Do I need to make my social media accounts public for my F, M, or J visa interview?
Yes, you are currently expected to set all your social media accounts to public before your F, M, or J visa interview, as part of expanded online-presence screening. Simply listing your handles on the DS-160 form is not enough, so check your privacy settings well ahead of time.
Right now, if you are applying for an F, M, or J visa, you are expected to set every social media account you use to public so consular officers can review it as part of expanded online-presence screening. This goes further than just filling in your handles on the DS-160, so it is worth checking your privacy settings before your appointment.
What Consular Screening Currently Covers
| Visa Type | Screening Requirement |
|---|---|
| F Visa (academic students) | Set all social accounts to public for review |
| M Visa (vocational students) | Set all social accounts to public for review |
| J Visa (exchange visitors) | Set all social accounts to public for review |
Why Just Listing Handles Is Not Enough
Some guidance suggests that adding your social profile details to the DS-160 is sufficient, but that understates what is actually asked of you. The expectation is that your profiles themselves are open for consular review, not just referenced in your form.
My Advice
Go through every platform you are active on a week or two before your interview and switch your privacy settings to public, then keep your online presence consistent with what you have declared. Officers are looking for authenticity, so there is no need to scrub your history, just make sure your accounts are visible and accessible when asked.
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