221(g) Notices Surge as Applicants Refuse to Make Profiles Public

The U.S. Department of State now requires all F, M, and J visa applicants to make their social media profiles public during the visa process. Since late June 2025, consular officers have issued more 221(g) administrative processing notices when profiles aren’t public or need deeper review.

Officials say the shift aims to strengthen screening and address security concerns. Students, exchange visitors, and schools report longer waits, confusion over “Refused” case statuses, and uncertainty about fall arrivals.

What changed and when

• June 18, 2025 — the State Department announced expanded screening for student and exchange categories.
• The policy applies to all new, pending, and renewal F, M, and J cases, including interview waivers.
• Applicants must keep all social media set to public from before the interview until a final decision.
• Officers are issuing more 221(g) notices to review social media and other online content. This is not a denial; it’s a hold for extra checks.

A State Department spokesperson emphasized national security goals and efforts to combat online content tied to hate or violence. University advisers report a notable rise in 221(g) holds since late June.

“We’re counseling students to set profiles to public early and avoid last-minute changes,” one international office director said.

How the process works now

• DS-160: Applicants must list all social media handles used in the last five years on the online nonimmigrant visa application. Be accurate and complete; leaving out a handle can trigger problems later. You can access the DS-160 via the Consular Electronic Application Center on the State Department’s website.
• Social media vetting: Profiles must be public. Officers may review posts, follows, affiliations, photos, and any public digital content. Deleting accounts after filing can raise red flags.
• Interview and 221(g): If otherwise eligible, you may receive a 221(g) “refusal” for administrative processing while the review completes. Your CEAC status will show “Refused” during this stage.
• Checks and timing: Officers look for support for violent groups, calls for antisemitic or other targeted violence, illegal activity, immigration fraud indicators, or inconsistencies with your application. Most cases clear in 1–2 weeks, but some take months and a small portion can stretch up to 12 months.
• Final decision: If cleared, your visa is issued. If not, you may receive a denial and, in some cases, a finding of ineligibility for future visas.

Rising 221(g) numbers and delays

• Immigration lawyers and campus offices report a sharp increase in 221(g) administrative processing for F, M, and J since late June.
• Typical processing: 1–2 weeks for most cases; a minority can take several months or up to a year.
• Backlogs persist after spring appointment pauses and because of the deeper review process.

Privacy, discretion, and stress

• Privacy tradeoffs: Applicants must open accounts to the public — many find this intrusive.
• Discretion: Officers have broad latitude to determine what counts as “hostile attitudes” or risky behavior, which can lead to uneven outcomes across posts, languages, or local contexts.
• Confusion: The “Refused” status alarms applicants even when it often indicates routine checks rather than a denial.

Impact on students, exchange visitors, and schools

• Students with tight program start dates risk late arrivals; some may need to defer if passports remain in administrative processing.
• J exchange visitors face the same risks for research starts, medical residencies, or teaching roles.
• Universities report anxiety among incoming classes and are pressing for faster processing for time-sensitive cases.
• Some areas run a two-tier expedited appointment system, prioritizing certain institutions — this may slow appointments for others.

Practical steps to reduce risk

1. Make profiles public at least two weeks before the interview and keep them public until your visa is issued. Take screenshots of settings as proof.
2. Clean up your online presence:
   • Remove violent imagery and memes that could be taken out of context.
   • Delete fake profiles and impersonations.
   • Avoid political posts that could be interpreted as support for violence.
3. Be consistent: Ensure education, job, travel, and date information match across your DS-160, I-20/DS-2019, and public profiles.
4. Don’t delete accounts after filing — deletion can appear to be an attempt to hide information.
5. Disclose all handles and past usernames on the DS-160 — include platforms and aliases used in the last five years.
6. Monitor CEAC and email. Respond quickly to any document requests (resume, publications, supervisor letter, etc.).
7. Talk to your school. Designated School Officials (F/M) and Responsible Officers (J) can advise on timing, check-in deadlines, and possible deferrals.
8. Consider legal advice if your case is in 221(g) for 60+ days or if you receive misrepresentation concerns.

What the checks look for

Officers are specifically checking for:
– Posts or follows tied to violent groups or calls for antisemitic or other targeted violence
– Evidence of fraud, such as online claims of degrees or jobs that don’t match your forms
– Signs of unlawful activity
– Conflicts between your application and public history (e.g., claimed funding or research that doesn’t match documents)

Common scenarios

• F-1 master’s student: Profile private at interview; receives 221(g) asking to make accounts public. After updating settings and sending proof, case clears in 10 days.
• J-1 researcher: Old username with political jokes is algorithmically tied to hate content. Officer requests explanation and a supervisor letter. Approval follows 3 weeks later.
• M-1 student: Lists Instagram and LinkedIn but misses a past Twitter handle. Officer finds it and extends processing to verify identity. Case clears in 1 month.

Key reminders for forms and official sources

• Complete your DS-160 carefully and keep the confirmation page. The State Department’s CEAC site provides the DS-160 and tracks your case status. Use the CEAC portal words to find the official page for application and status checks.
• For F-1/M-1: make sure your I-20 is active, your SEVIS fee is paid, and your school DSO is reachable.
• For J-1: have your DS-2019 and your Responsible Officer’s contact information ready.
• Check your local embassy or consulate page for interview guidance, document lists, and 221(g) submission steps. Official pages often explain how to submit passports or extra documents after the interview.

Policy outlook

• Expect continued social media vetting for F, M, and J — there’s no announced end date.
• Digital screening may expand to other visa categories. Advocacy groups and higher education leaders are pushing for clearer rules and faster processing.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the trend points to broader online checks and closer review of public content across visa types.

Important: Plan for delays and treat the possibility of a 221(g) hold as a realistic contingency when scheduling program start dates.

Actionable takeaways

• Set all social media to public before your interview and keep them public until your visa is issued.
• Ensure consistency between your DS-160, I-20/DS-2019, resume, and online profiles.
• Prepare for a 221(g) administrative processing notice; plan travel start dates with buffer time.
• Work with your school or host program, and respond promptly to consular requests.
• Use the U.S. Department of State’s CEAC portal to review your status and find instructions on document submission and passport return. For official guidance on nonimmigrant visas, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs Nonimmigrant Visa page.