U.S. Visa Applicants Must Now Make Social Media Profiles Public

9/21/2026

A person holding a smartphone showing public social media settings next to a U.S. visa application and passport.

The U.S. Department of State announced new rules for people applying for nonimmigrant visas. Starting October 1, the government will check the social media accounts of more visa applicants. This new rule applies to foreign media workers (I visas) and workers from Canada and Mexico under the USMCA agreement and their families (TN and TD visas). Applicants in these groups must set their social media accounts to "public."

This update expands on rules that already apply to many other visa groups. People applying for student visas, exchange visitor visas, temporary worker visas, fiancé visas, and religious worker visas already have their social media checked. By adding media workers and USMCA professionals, the U.S. government is applying these background checks to even more visitors.

The Department of State checks all available information to decide if someone can safely enter the country. The main goal is to find any applicants who might be a danger to national security or public safety. Officials say they use these strict screening rules equally for all visa applicants.

The government treats every visa decision as an important security choice. Officials check background information to make sure visitors do not plan to harm Americans or U.S. interests. Applicants must also prove that they truly qualify for the visa and promise to follow all immigration laws while in the country.

Finally, the announcement reminds people that getting a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The government can choose who enters the country based on these checks. By looking at social media, the U.S. aims to keep the country safe before granting visas.

Source: U.S. Department of State