US Visa Rules Tightened Further, Social Media Screening To Expand From Oct 1
Mian Nadeem
Published September 22, 2026 | 04:21 PM
From October 1, nonimmigrant visa applicants in the I, TN, and TD categories will also undergo enhanced social media screening, according to a report.
WASHINGTON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Sep, 2026) The United States has decided to further expand scrutiny of visa applicants’ online activities.
Social Media Screening Expansion:
Starting October 1, nonimmigrant visa applicants in the I, TN, and TD categories will be included in the social media screening process. This change directly impacts foreign media representatives, certain professionals under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and their family members.
Visa Categories Affected:
- I Visas: Issued to foreign media representatives working in journalism, radio, film, print media, or related fields who temporarily travel to the US for professional duties.
- TN Visas: Available to citizens of Canada and Mexico eligible to work temporarily in the US under the USMCA.
- TD Visas: Used for certain family members (spouses and unmarried minor children) of TN visa holders.
Social Media Requirements:
Applicants in these categories will be required to make all their social media profile settings public or open, allowing authorities to review publicly available information during the visa vetting process.
Previous Screening History:
Social media screening was initially implemented during President Trump's first term and, while some measures were revoked by President Biden through executive orders, social media screening for visas remains in place.
Unclear Guidelines:
The announcement did not provide a specific list of posts that applicants must delete nor state that a visa would be denied based on particular types of posts.