The United States has added more visa types to its social media screening rules. From 1 October, more applicants must make all of their social media profiles public.
The newest change mainly affects journalists and other media workers, The South African reported. Consular officers can now look through their posts before they decide on a visa.
The US Department of State announced the change on 18 September 2026. It said a US visa remains “a privilege granted at the government’s discretion, not an entitlement.”
The screening now covers three more visa categories, called I, TN and TD. The I visa is for foreign media representatives, including journalists.
The TN and TD visas are for professionals from Canada and Mexico and their dependents. These two do not apply to South Africans.
People applying in these categories must set the privacy settings on every social media profile to “public” or “open”.
The department said it uses every available source of information. It said this helps it find applicants who may be a threat to national security or public safety.
Students and exchange visitors were already covered by the rule. According to immigration law firm DiRaimondo and Schroeder, applicants for F, M and J visas have been screened since June 2025.
The J visa covers exchange programmes such as au pair and work and travel programmes.
Skilled workers on H-1B visas and their H-4 dependents were added in December 2025. On 30 March 2026, the checks were extended to fiancé visas.
That March change also added several other categories, including the K, R, T, U, Q and H-3 visas.
Tourists are not required to make their profiles public under the latest change. They still have to list their social media accounts on the application form.
Since 2019, almost all US visa applicants have had to name the platforms they used in the past five years. This information goes on the DS-160 visa application form.
Applicants who lie about their social media use could face serious immigration consequences, the report said.
State Department guidance says consular officers will not ask applicants for their passwords.
Experts advise applicants to assume their online presence will be reviewed and compared with their application. Posts that clash with what applicants told the embassy could lead to extra questions or delays.
An employment history that does not match across platforms could also cause problems, according to the report. Applicants were advised to make sure their LinkedIn job history matches their visa forms.
The department has not announced new processing times. The report said delays are possible in individual cases, and applicants were advised to leave extra time before they travel.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.