Visa Updates – Social Media Vetting, Visa Reciprocity Updates, and New Visa Integrity Fee
Since early summer 2025, there have been several updates to the visa process. Please see a summary of those updates below. ISSS also hosted an International Travel Webinar in November 2025 which highlights several of these updates. You can view the recording to the webinar here. As always, contact us with questions.
Visa Wait Times Rise Under New Screening Requirements
In June 2025, the Department of State expanded social media vetting for all F and J visa applicants, requiring accounts to be public for review. This has led to longer appointment wait times and more cases in administrative processing. For more detail visit this NAFSA page or Ogletree Deakins.
Visa Reciprocity Updates: Shorter Validity, Single Entry
In early July 2025, the Department of State reduced visa validity and entry limits for many countries under its visa reciprocity policy. Many B, F, H, J, and O visas are now valid for only 3 months and limited to a single entry. For a full list of impacted countries visit this link. At Vanderbilt University, the largest impacted student groups are from Nigeria, Iran, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.
New Visa Integrity Fee for All Non-Immigrant Applicants
On July 4, 2025 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) was signed into law, creating a new visa integrity fee for all non-immigrant visa applicants. The fee starts at $250, with DHS annual inflation adjustments from FY 2026. This fee is in addition to existing visa and reciprocity fees and cannot be waived, though eligible individuals may qualify for reimbursement if they fully comply with visa terms. Implementation details are still pending. See full summary.