Effective October 1st, 2026, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has expanded its existing “online presence” review during nonimmigrant visa interviews at U.S. consulates to include I, TN, and TD applicants as part of its national security screening procedures. Applicants are instructed to set their privacy settings on their social media profiles to “public” or “open” to facilitate this review.
This announcement follows an earlier March 2026 policy expanding social media vetting and screening for nonimmigrant visa applicants in the following categories:
- Diplomatic and Official Visas: A-3, C-3 (if a domestic worker), G-5
- Students: F-1, M-1, F-2, M-2
- Temporary Workers, Trainees, and Dependents: H-1B, H-3, H-4
- Exchange Visitors and Dependents: J-1, J-2
- Fiancé(e)s and Dependents: K-1, K-2, K-3
- International Cultural Exchange Participants: Q
- Religious Workers and Dependents: R-1, R-2
- Witnesses, Informants, and Victims: S, T, U
Although the DOS announcement specifically addresses visa applicants at U.S. consulates, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may also conduct additional screening at ports of entry, including land borders and airports. Travelers are encouraged to carefully review their social media accounts before traveling internationally and to be prepared for potential additional screening when applying for a visa or seeking admission to the United States.
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This update is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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