US Widens Social Media Screening for Visas From October 1: What Applicants Need to Know
The United States will expand its online and social media screening requirements for additional visa applicants beginning October 1, 2026. Applicants in the newly affected categories will be instructed to make their social media profiles public or open for review.
The U.S. Department of State has announced an expansion of its online presence review process for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants, effective October 1, 2026. The new requirements will apply to I visas for foreign media representatives, TN visas for eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and TD visas for qualifying dependents of TN visa holders. Travel.state.gov Applicants in these categories are being instructed to change the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public” or “open” to facilitate the screening process. Travel.state.gov The October expansion adds these visa categories to a broader group already subject to enhanced online presence review. The State Department lists categories including certain diplomatic and official visas, student visas, temporary workers and trainees, exchange visitors, fiancé visas and dependents, religious workers, and several other classifications. Travel.state.gov The State Department says it uses available sources of information during visa screening to determine applicants' eligibility and identify potential national-security or public-safety concerns. Its September 18 announcement does not provide detailed criteria describing exactly how individual social media posts will be evaluated. Travel.state.gov The change is particularly important for people applying for the newly covered I, TN and TD visas from October 1, who should be aware of the public-profile instruction before going through the visa process.