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• The US Department of State announced it will expand social media vetting to cover I, TN, and TD nonimmigrant visa categories starting October 1
• Applicants in the newly covered visa categories must set all their social media profiles to public to support the vetting process
• The expansion adds to a list of other visa categories already subject to online presence screening as part of national security checks

.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

The United States Department of State has announced an expansion of its social media vetting programme, extending mandatory online presence reviews to applicants seeking I, TN, and TD nonimmigrant visas, effective October 1.

The new directive targets foreign media representatives applying under the I visa category, as well as professionals from countries covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and their dependants, who apply under the TN and TD classifications respectively.

All applicants in these three categories are required to set the privacy settings on every social media profile they hold to either “public” or “open” ahead of their applications.

Which other visa categories will be affected?

The October 1 expansion builds on vetting measures already in place across eight nonimmigrant visa categories:

1. Diplomatic and official visas: A-3, C-3 (if a domestic worker).
2. G-5 2. Students: F-1, M-1, F-2, M-2 3.
3. Temporary workers and trainees: H-1B, H-3, H-4 dependants of H-1B and H-3 4.
4. Exchange visitors: J-1, J-2.
5. Fiancé(e) and dependants: K-1, K-2, K-3.
6. International cultural exchange participants.
7. Religious occupations: R-1, R-2.
8. Witnesses, informants, and victims: S, T, U.

Why is the US expanding visa vetting?

The State Department described visa adjudication as “fundamentally a national security decision,” stressing that it draws on every available source of information to identify applicants who may be inadmissible, including those considered a threat to national security or public safety.

Officials stated that the government applies the same rigorous vetting standard across all visa applicants, and that the process is intended to confirm that those seeking entry do not intend to cause harm to Americans or undermine US interests.

The Department also reiterated that applicants must credibly demonstrate eligibility for the visa they are requesting, including a genuine intent to comply with the terms of their admission.

“Receiving a US visa remains a privilege granted at the government’s discretion, not an entitlement,” the Department stated.

Why increased US visa scrutiny?

The announcement is part of a broader tightening of immigration policy under the current US administration.

Trump has moved aggressively to strengthen border controls, expand deportation operations, and increase scrutiny of foreign nationals seeking entry into the country.

The administration has also pursued travel restrictions targeting several nations and directed federal agencies to prioritise national security considerations at every stage of the immigration process.