US Expands Visa Social Media Checks to New Categories

The US Department of State announced that starting 1 October 2026, social media screening requirements will be expanded to include three new categories of visa applicants: holders of I visas (foreign media representatives), TN visas (professionals from countries under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), and TD visas (dependents of TN holders). Applicants in these categories must set their social media accounts to public before applying, allowing consular officers full visibility into their online activities as part of the visa assessment process.

The State Department reiterated that obtaining a US visa is a privilege, not a guaranteed right. This expansion broadens the digital scrutiny beyond the previously targeted student and worker categories, now including journalists and trade professionals.

For applicants from Africa and other regions falling under these categories, making social media profiles publicly accessible will be mandatory from October 2026.