US Expands Visa Social Media Checks to I, TN, and TD Applicants Starting October 1

US Expands Visa Social Media Checks to I, TN, and TD Applicants Starting October 1
The United States will expand required social media screening to I, TN, and TD visa applicants beginning October 1, requiring them to make their profiles public.
The United States will expand mandatory social media screening to I, TN, and TD visa applicants beginning October 1, 2026, requiring them to make their profiles public or open.
The new requirement applies to I visa applicants, including international journalists and media representatives, TN professionals, and TD dependents under the USMCA framework. The Department of State says the evaluation is part of a larger visa screening and vetting procedure.
Which US visas currently need social media screening?
The requirement for public social media profiles has already been gradually increased. The current list contains:
A-3, C-3 domestic workers, and G-5 diplomatic/official visa holders
F-1 and F-2 academic students and dependents.
M-1 and M-2 vocational students with dependents
H-1B, H-4 temporary employees and dependents
H-3 and H-4 trainees and dependents
J-1 and J-2 exchange guests and dependents.
K-1, K-2, and K-3 fiancé/spouse categories.
Q international cultural exchange participants
R-1, R-2 religious workers and their dependents.
S, T, and U applicants for witness, trafficking, and crime-related categories
Foreign media representatives, TN and TD USMCA professionals, and their dependents will be covered from October 1, 2026.
There is a key distinction here. Since 2019, most immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants worldwide have been asked to disclose social media IDs on their US visa application forms. That does not imply that all visa applicants have been obliged to make their accounts public.
Are there any exemptions?
The most recent State Department notification does not include a broad exemption for applicants in the I, TN, or TD categories. Applicants affected by the rule are instructed to make their social media profiles "public" or "open."
This is particularly important for Indian travelers who are journalists, media professionals, or who may be eligible for US work-related visa categories. TN visas are designed for Canadian and Mexican professionals, however TD dependents may have alternative nationality criteria.
The broader tendency is clear: US visa screening is shifting away from information provided in the application and toward more comprehensive examinations of applicants' online presence, making social media settings an increasingly practical aspect of visa preparation.

Travunited Take
We consider this as a sensible compliance measure for affected applicants. Before applying, we would verify all of our social media accounts, confirm our privacy settings, and ensure that the information we submitted was consistent.