US embassy in Bangkok requires visa applicants to make social media public

Applicants who fail to comply will face processing delays, according to the Bangkok embassy

Visa applicants at the US embassy in Bangkok must now set all their social media accounts to public as part of the screening process, with the requirement taking effect immediately.

According to a notice posted on Facebook by the US embassy in Bangkok on Monday, the change is intended to help confirm applicants' identity and determine whether they are legally admissible to the United States.

The embassy's statement specifies which visa categories are affected:

"All individuals applying for an A-3, C-3 (if a domestic worker), G-5, H1-B, H-3, H-4 dependent of H-1B and H-3, F, M, J, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, or U nonimmigrant visa must adjust the privacy setting on all social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish identity and admissibility to the United States under US law. Failure to comply will delay processing."

The list covers a broad range of applicants, including skilled workers on H-1B visas, students on F and M visas, exchange visitors on J visas, and fiancés and spouses on K visas.

Mixed reactions online

The announcement triggered debate in the comments section of the embassy's Facebook post. Many respondents criticized the policy as an invasion of privacy and a threat to civil liberties. Others questioned the transparency of the requirement and asked how it would apply to individuals who do not use social media at all.

A smaller number of commenters expressed support for tighter screening measures.

The embassy has not clarified how applicants without social media accounts should proceed or whether alternative verification methods will be offered.