{
  "id": 9132693,
  "title": "US expands social media checks to foreign media journalists, other visa applicants from Oct 1",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/us-expands-social-media-checks-to-foreign-media-journalists-other",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T11:01:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nairametrics",
    "slug": "nairametrics",
    "url": "https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/22/us-expands-social-media-checks-to-foreign-media-journalists-other-visa-applicants-from-oct-1/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States will enforce mandatory social media screening for I, TN, and TD visa applicants starting October 1, 2026. This requirement applies to foreign journalists, media representatives, TN professionals, and TD dependents under the USMCA. Applicants must make their social media profiles either public or open. This change is part of the US Department of State's broader visa screening and vetting process. Previously, visa applicants were required to disclose all social media usernames or handles used in the past five years on the DS-160 application form. The US had also temporarily suspended student visa processing in June 2025 but resumed it with stricter social media screening for F, M, and J visa applicants. The expansion of the social media screening policy affects a growing list of nonimmigrant visa categories. The US Mission in Nigeria warns that visa overstays by Nigerian travelers could impact opportunities for other Nigerians, emphasizing the importance of compliance with visa conditions.",
  "summary": "The United States will expand mandatory social media screening to I, TN and TD visa applicants from October 1, 2026, requiring applicants in the affected categories to make their social media profiles public or open. The post US expands social media checks to foreign media journalists, other visa applicants from Oct 1 appeared first on Nairametrics .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}