US Embassy in Amman requires visa applicants to make social media profiles "public"

US Embassy in Amman announced on Monday that, effective immediately, all applicants for non-immigrant visas in the F, M, and J categories are required to set their social media accounts to public visibility as part of the visa screening process.

The embassy stated that this change is aimed at facilitating the identity verification and eligibility assessment of applicants seeking to enter the United States.

The issued statement added that the US government has required both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to provide their social media handles in visa application forms since 2019.

According to the embassy, all available information, including online activity, is used to help determine the admissibility of applicants and to identify individuals who may pose a threat to US national security.