US expands social media rule for Pinoy visa applicants
The United States has expanded the list of Filipinos who should set their social media accounts to public when they apply for a US visa.
The US Embassy in the Philippines announced on Wednesday that aside from students and exchanges (F, M, and J visas) and specialty occupations (1B and H-4 dependents visas), the following categories must adhere to the requirement starting March 30: fiancé(e) visa applicants (K-1, K-2, and K-3 visas); certain personal employees or domestic workers (A-3, C-3, and G-5 visas); trainee or special education exchange visitors (H-3 and their H-4 dependents); cultural and religious visitors (Q, R-1, and R-2 visas); and informants, witnesses, and victims of crimes (S, T, and U visas).
The requirement has been enforced since 2019.
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames, handles or identifiers for every platform they have used in the last five years on the visa application form,” the US embassy said in a statement.
