Executive Summary: The U.S. is expanding “continuous vetting” of visa holders, reviewing everything from criminal records to social media activity. While the program claims to monitor 55 million visas, it disproportionately affects students and smaller visa categories. A revoked visa doesn’t always require you to leave the U.S., but it cuts off reentry. Companies and individuals must be cautious—especially about what gets shared online.

Visa holders often assume their approval means they’re in the clear. But that’s not how the U.S. government sees it. Over the past few years, visa vetting has become much more than a background check at the time of application. It’s now being pitched as a continuous process, one that includes monitoring social media, past conduct, and even political views. And while this may sound like a security measure, it creates serious concerns for students, employees, and the businesses that rely on them.

What Is “Continuous Vetting”?

The U.S. government already has the authority to revoke a visa at any time. This power belongs to the Secretary of State and has existed for decades. What’s changed is how often and how broadly that power is now being used.

Under the current administration’s push for “continuous vetting,” the Department of State and other agencies say they plan to review all 55 million visa records on an ongoing basis. That includes re-checking background information, reviewing public activity, and scanning social media.

Realistically, there’s no way to vet 55 million people in a meaningful way. The resources aren’t there, and the logic doesn’t hold up. They’re not going to visit every company or school and verify that visa holders are still doing what they said they would. But the infrastructure is being put in place anyway.

What They’re Actually Looking For

In practice, this vetting most often targets:

• Students and younger visa holders
• Anyone with a criminal or DUI arrest or conviction
• People posting content perceived as “anti-American”

We’ve seen multiple cases where a student posts something about U.S. politics or joins an online group, and their visa is suddenly revoked. Sometimes they’re notified before they travel. Sometimes they’re stopped at the airport. And sometimes, they’re already in the U.S. when it happens.

In those cases, the US Embassy sends an email saying, “Your visa has been revoked. Please return to your home country.” That message sounds final, but it’s not.

If Your Visa Is Revoked, You May Still Be Legal

One of the biggest misunderstandings is what a visa revocation means. If you’re already in the U.S., you don’t have to leave just because your visa was revoked. You lose your ability to travel, yes. However, your underlying status (e.g., F-1, H-1B) may still be valid.

Unless the government starts formal removal proceedings, you can stay and continue your work or studies. That said, you’re on thinner ice. If you leave the U.S., you won’t be allowed back in on that visa.

This process is rarely used against professionals or business visitors. But students are increasingly at risk, especially those who work illegally or post online without thinking about the consequences.

Social Media Can Get You Denied

The most common issue we see is students working off-campus without authorization, then bragging about it online. Immigration officers search social media. They have tools to access deleted content. It’s not private just because you erased it.

We’ve seen students blocked from reentry because of posts that said, “Working at XYZ part-time and loving it!” They call us confused: “But everyone does it.” That doesn’t matter. Posting about illegal work or anything that suggests you’re violating visa terms can be grounds for denial or revocation.

This policy isn’t new. The U.S. has been collecting social media handles as part of visa applications since 2019. What’s new is how aggressively it’s being used now.

For Employers and HR Managers

If your company sponsors foreign workers, this should matter to you. While the risk is currently highest for students, the same vetting tools could easily extend to H-1Bs, L-1s, and other visa categories. It’s unclear how far the government will take this program, but companies with foreign nationals on staff should make sure everyone understands the risks of posting online.

Employees should be reminded that they’re representing themselves and, by extension, your business, whenever they post publicly. Even a single post can change a file from “approved” to “denied.” 

 

The shift toward continuous visa vetting is already happening. It gives the U.S. government broad authority to revoke visas without formal hearings, and it’s being used more than ever before. If you’re a student, visa holder, or business that sponsors foreign talent, this isn’t just background noise. It’s a real risk, and one you should take seriously.

Need help understanding more about visa vetting? Contact Valvo & Associates. We help businesses hire smart and stay compliant without wasting time on guesswork.