United States implements new visa screening and travel warnings

The United States government has implemented several significant changes and warnings regarding travel and visa processes. As of October 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has expanded social media screening for certain non-immigrant visa categories, specifically TN, TD, and I visas. Applicants in these categories, which include professionals under USMCA and foreign media representatives, must now set their social media profiles to “public” or “open” to facilitate consular evaluation.

In terms of security, the U.S. Department of State issued a severe travel warning for the Norte de Santander department in Colombia. The advisory urges citizens to immediately suspend travel to the region due to escalating violence from illegal armed groups, such as the ELN, which include the use of explosive-laden drones and attacks on state infrastructure. A 10-kilometer exclusion perimeter has been established along the Colombia-Venezuela border to protect citizens from crossfire.

Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic has warned that visa applications will be denied if there is suspicion of “maternity tourism,” where individuals travel to the U.S. solely to give birth for citizenship purposes. This follows reports that the Department of State has revoked over 250,000 visas since the start of the current administration due to various violations, including fraud and threats to national security.