US expands visa restrictions with social media checks and bond fees

The United States Department of State announced on 6 August 2026 that it will broaden the review of foreign visa applicants' social‑media profiles. The new rule requires journalists, students, participants in cultural exchange programmes and certain business travellers from Mexico and Canada under the US‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement to make their accounts public for security screening. A State Department spokesperson said the measure “allows applicants to demonstrate they meet visa requirements and ensures no one poses a risk to U.S. security.”

At the same time, the State Department made permanent a visa‑bond program for B‑1 business and B‑2 tourist visas. Applicants from designated countries must post a refundable bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 before a visa can be issued. The rule affects 50 nationalities, 30 of which are African, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal and Tanzania. A pilot public‑charge bond for certain immigrant visas can reach up to $250,000, targeting applicants deemed a potential public‑charge risk. The combined policies tighten U.S. immigration controls, impacting travelers, businesses and families, especially across Africa and North America.