On September 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced that beginning October 1, 2026, it will extend its expanded online-presence review to applicants for TN, TD, and I visa classifications. This expansion adds these visa categories to the Department’s ongoing social media screening process during visa applications.
Expanded Social Media Review Requirements for TN, TD, and I Visa Applicants
The Department of State requires that applicants for TN, TD, and I visas make all of their social media profiles public or open to facilitate the screening process starting October 1, 2026. Partial compliance, such as making some profiles public while others remain private, does not meet the requirement. Applicants without social
media profiles are not required to create accounts. The expanded review builds on social media screening that has been in place since 2019, when the Department began requesting social media identifiers from most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants.
TN, TD, and I Visa Classifications and Eligibility
The TN visa applies to qualifying Canadian and Mexican citizens entering the United States temporarily for designated professional business activities under the USMCA agreement. Mexican citizens typically require a TN visa before entry, while Canadian citizens often obtain TN status directly at a U.S. port of entry, though they may also apply for a visa in specific cases. The TD visa is
for spouses and unmarried minor children of TN visa holders; Canadian dependents usually do not require TD visas, unlike most Mexican and non-Canadian dependents, who do. The I visa classification is designated for qualifying foreign media representatives working professionally in the United States.
Use of Social Media Information in Visa Screening
The Department of State uses accessible information sources during visa application reviews to identify applicants who may be inadmissible and to determine their eligibility for the requested visa. Online-presence review is a component of a broader vetting process that relies on available information sources to establish eligibility but does not solely decide visa approval or denial.
Implications for TN, TD, and I Visa Applicants
Applicants
for TN, TD, and I visas must prepare for more comprehensive social media reviews beginning October 1, 2026. They are instructed to set all social media profiles to public or open before submission of their visa applications. Accuracy and completeness in all visa application materials, interviews, and supporting documents remain critical. Although the expanded review adds an extra step in screening, visa eligibility primarily depends on whether applicants meet the qualifications under U.S. immigration law.
