Any journalist, correspondent, photographer or documentary filmmaker applying for a US media (I) visa starting October 1 will need to set all their social media profiles to public so US consular officers can review their online activity as part of the visa decision.
The US State Department announced an expanded visa-screening policy, updated September 18, 2026, requiring I-visa applicants those who are representatives of foreign news organizations working temporarily in the US having to make their social media accounts publicly viewable starting October 1.
The same rule also covers TN professional visas and TD dependent visas under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
This extends a screening practice the State Department already applies to several other visa categories, including F, M and J (student, vocational trainee, and exchange visitor) visas, plus temporary worker, fiancé, religious worker and cultural-exchange visas.
Officials say the goal is identifying potential security concerns during visa adjudication.
The State Department has not specified which social media platforms will actually be reviewed, how far back officials may look into old posts, or whether applicants must hand over specific account usernames.
What to do:
1)If applying for an I, TN, or TD visa on or after October 1, set all social media profiles to public or open before your interview.
2)Review your own posting history with the understanding that consular officers may examine it but don't assume deleting posts entirely solves the concern, since evasiveness itself has been flagged as a red flag in similar past guidance for other visa categories.
3)If you have specific concerns about source protection or sensitive reporting history, this is a case where professional legal guidance matters more than general advice.
