US Social Media Visa Vetting will expand from October 1, 2026, to cover three additional nonimmigrant visa categories.
The US Department of State will include I, TN and TD visa applicants in its online presence review.
US Social Media Visa Vetting Expands
The expanded screening will apply to I visas for foreign media representatives, TN visas for eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals under the USMCA, and TD visas for their eligible dependents.
Applicants in these categories will be instructed to set the privacy settings of all their social media profiles to “public” or “open” so that their online presence can be reviewed during the visa process.
Which Visa Applicants Are Affected
I visas are issued to qualifying foreign media representatives, including professionals working in the press, radio, film and print industries who are temporarily travelling to the US for permitted media activities.
The TN category covers qualified professionals from Canada and Mexico entering the US for eligible professional activities.
TD visas are available to qualifying spouses and unmarried minor children of TN visa holders.
Social Media Checks Already Cover More Visa Categories
The latest expansion follows earlier additions to the online presence review.
The screening already covers several categories, including student, temporary worker, exchange visitor, fiancé, religious worker and certain diplomatic and humanitarian-related visas.
The US Department of State says it uses available information during visa screening to identify applicants who may be inadmissible or pose national security or public safety concerns.
What New Applicants Should Know
Applicants covered by the October 1 expansion should ensure their social media privacy settings follow the stated requirement before the visa process.
They may also face additional scrutiny during the review of their applications.
US Social Media Visa Vetting is part of the broader visa screening process, so applicants should continue to meet all other eligibility and documentation requirements for their specific visa category.
