The requirement is effective immediately and aims to enable screening to confirm applicants’ identity and legal admissibility, the embassy posted on its Facebook account.
The notice reads:
“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.”
However, the announcement drew immediate backlash from netizens, with some raising concerns about applicants who were not active on social media, reports the Bangkok Post. Many saw the announcement as violating citizen rights and privacy, as the visa application process should remain private. Some criticised the White House for the requirement, targeting mainly President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies.
A netizen who called himself Danny Dukes wrote that, “So the entire public will see all of your posts. The applications should be private, not open to the world.”
Kham Creates wrote, “What if they don’t use any social media?”
Myat Noe wrote, “You must surrender your liberty in order to visit the land of liberty. BTW, I am sure those with things to hide would not even post them on their social pages.”