U.S. Expands Social Media Screening for TN, TD and I Visa Applicants
Beginning October 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State will expand its online-presence review to applicants for three additional nonimmigrant visa classifications:
- TN visas for qualifying Canadian and Mexican professionals under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA);
- TD visas for qualifying dependents of TN professionals; and
- I visas for representatives of foreign media.
The Department of State announced the change on September 18, 2026, and has instructed applicants in these categories to change the privacy settings on all of their social-media profiles to “public” or “open” to facilitate the screening process.
This does not mean that social-media information is completely new to the U.S. visa process. The Department of State has collected social-media identifiers from most visa applicants for several years. What changes on October 1 is that TN, TD and I visa applicants are being added to the categories subject to the Department’s expanded online-presence review.
Official U.S. Department of State announcement:
Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants
Who Is Affected by the October 1 Change?
The new announcement specifically adds applicants in the following classifications:
TN — USMCA Professionals
The TN classification is available to qualifying citizens of Canada and Mexico who come temporarily to the United States for certain professional business activities. Mexican citizens generally require TN visas. Canadian citizens generally do not need a TN visa and may instead seek TN status at a U.S. port of entry, although a TN visa may be issued to a qualified Canadian applicant in certain circumstances. The October 1 online-presence review applies to applicants seeking TN visas.
TD — Dependents of TN Professionals
Certain spouses and unmarried minor children of TN professionals may qualify for TD status. The October 1 expansion applies to those who are actually applying for TD visas. Canadian citizen dependents generally do not require TD visas, while Mexican and many non-Canadian dependents do.
I — Representatives of Foreign Media
The I visa classification generally applies to qualifying representatives of foreign media traveling to the United States to work in their professional capacity.
The September 18 announcement concerns visa applicants in these categories.
What Does “Online Presence Review” Mean?
The Department of State says it relies on available sources of information during visa screening and vetting to identify applicants who may be inadmissible to the United States and to determine whether applicants can establish eligibility for the visa they are requesting.
For TN, TD and I visa applicants, the Department is now expressly instructing applicants to make all social-media profiles public or open so those profiles are accessible during the review.
This is important because making one account public while leaving others private would not follow the instruction as written. The Department uses the phrase “all of their social media profiles.”
Is Social Media Screening New?
No. Since 2019, the Department of State has requested social-media identifiers from most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants as part of the visa application process. The Department said at the time that collecting this information would assist with applicant screening and identity verification.
Online-presence review has also already been applied to several other nonimmigrant classifications.
The October 1 change is an expansion of that existing screening process, not the beginning of social-media screening for U.S. visas generally.
My Tips for TN, TD and I Visa Applicants
Know the effective date. The expanded review for these categories begins October 1, 2026.
Review the Department of State’s instructions before your visa appointment. Procedures can change, and applicants should rely on current official guidance.
Understand the “public or open” instruction. The Department specifically instructs TN, TD and I visa applicants to make all social-media profiles public or open for the screening process.
Be accurate throughout the application process. Visa applications, supporting documents, interview answers, and information provided to the government should be truthful and complete.
Do not assume that one social-media post determines the outcome. The Department describes online-presence review as one component of its broader screening and vetting process.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new social-media screening rule begin?
The expanded online-presence review for TN, TD and I visa applicants begins October 1, 2026.
Do TN visa applicants have to make their social-media accounts public?
The Department of State’s September 18 announcement instructs all TN, TD and I nonimmigrant visa applicants to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social-media profiles to “public” or “open.”
Does this apply to spouses and children of TN professionals?
Applicants seeking TD visas are expressly included in the October 1 expansion.
Does this mean the government was not reviewing social media before?
No. Social-media information has been part of the U.S. visa-screening process for years, and online-presence review already applies to other visa classifications. The October 1 announcement adds TN, TD and I applicants to that expanded review.
What if I do not have social media?
The September 18 announcement instructs applicants to make their social-media profiles public or open. It does not instruct someone who has no social-media profiles to create accounts for purposes of a visa application. Applicants should answer all visa-application questions accurately according to their actual circumstances.
Does making my profiles public mean my visa will be approved?
No. Making profiles accessible is part of the screening process. Visa applicants must still establish that they qualify for the particular visa requested and are otherwise eligible under U.S. law.
What Applicants Should Know Before October 1
For professionals applying for TN visas, their qualifying family members applying for TD visas, and foreign-media representatives applying for I visas, the October 1 change adds another consideration to the visa process.
The most important point is not to panic or make assumptions based on headlines. The Department of State is expanding an existing screening process and has issued a specific instruction for applicants in these categories to make their social-media profiles public or open.
Applicants should follow the current government instructions carefully and make sure the information they provide during the visa process is accurate.
Martha L. Arias, Esq.
Immigration Law Attorney
Experienced Immigration Law Attorney
If you have questions about a U.S. immigration matter or would like to discuss your individual circumstances, you may contact Arias Villa, PLLC in Miami, Florida at 305-671-0018.
DISCLAIMER: This article provides general immigration information and does not constitute legal advice. Visa eligibility depends on the individual applicant, the classification requested, applicable U.S. law, and the facts of the case. Government policies and procedures may change.
