Starting on October 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will be extending its social media vetting program to cover applicants for I, TN, and TD visas. The DOS made the announcement on September 18 and advises those affected to make their social media profiles either public or open.
Background
The review started in late June 2025 and initially covered applications from students and exchange visitors; in December 2025, applications by H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents were included, and then the program was expanded once more on March 30, 2026. The Department of State says that examining online activity enables consular officers to detect possible threats to national security or public safety; however, it has not made public the criteria it uses. In some cases, officers referrer applicants for further security screening. This could lead to delays or even rejection.
Affected Visas
As of October 1, online presence review applies to applicants for:
- H-1B visas and H-4 dependents.
- F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas.
- H-3 trainee visas.
- K visas for fiancé(e)s and spouses of U.S. citizens and their children.
- Q cultural exchange and R religious worker visas.
- S, T, and U visas.
- A-3, C-3, and G-5 visas for domestic workers and personal employees.
- I visas for foreign media representatives (new).
- TN visas for USMCA professionals and TD visas for their dependents (new).
Canadian citizens generally get TN status from CBP at the border without having to obtain a visa; this change will mainly impact Mexican nationals, who will then have to apply at a U.S. consulate.
What Applicants Should Do
When you apply through one of these categories, make your social media profiles public before the interview and keep them in this public status until a decision on your visa has been reached. Check the content that is visible to others to make sure it matches the reason for your employment and travel as stated. The DS-160 form asks you to provide all the social media handles that you have used over the past five years; you must include each and every one of them, since failing to do so might be seen as misrepresentation and could have serious repercussions. For the official announcement, see the DOS visa news page.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.