The United States Department of State is extending its social media screening requirements to three additional nonimmigrant visa categories from October 1, 2026.
Under the expanded policy, applicants for I, TN and TD visas will be required to make their social media profiles publicly accessible. Consular officers will then be able to review applicants’ online presence as part of the visa vetting process.
The State Department announced the change in an update issued on September 18, 2026, as part of its broader visa screening measures.
The affected categories include I visas, issued to representatives of foreign media organisations; TN visas, available to certain Canadian and Mexican professionals under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA); and TD visas, issued to eligible dependants of TN visa holders.
The latest expansion builds on a social media review process that already applies to applicants across several other visa classifications.
These include certain diplomatic and official visa categories, such as A-3, C-3 and G-5 visas where applicable, as well as student visas including F-1, F-2, M-1 and M-2.
The screening requirement also covers certain temporary workers and trainees under H-1B and H-3 visas and their H-4 dependants, alongside exchange visitors applying under J-1 and J-2 classifications.
Other affected categories include K-1, K-2 and K-3 visas for fiancé(e)s and dependants, Q visas for international cultural exchange programmes, R-1 and R-2 religious worker visas, and S, T and U visas covering certain witnesses, informants and victims.
According to the State Department, consular officers consider information from available sources when assessing visa applications. The review is intended to help determine whether an applicant could be inadmissible to the United States, including on grounds related to national security or public safety.
The department said the same vetting standards apply across visa applications and described each visa decision as a matter involving national security.
It added that the screening process is designed to establish whether applicants could pose risks to US citizens or national interests and whether they satisfy the requirements of the visa category for which they are applying.
Applicants must also demonstrate that they intend to comply with the conditions of their admission to the United States.
The department reiterated that obtaining a US visa is subject to government approval and is not an automatic right.
