US to start social media vetting of H-1B visa applicants, dependents from December 15

The United States will expand the vetting of social media profiles to applicants for H-1B visas and their dependents from December 15, The Indian Express quoted a spokesperson from the country's embassy in India as saying on Wednesday.

“In every visa case, we will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States and that he or she has credibly established his or her eligibility for the visa sought, including that the applicant intends to engage in activities consistent with the terms of admission,” the spokesperson in New Delhi said.

The spokesperson also said that the US Department of State regularly shifts visa appointments as needed to match resource availability, The Hindu reported. “We will communicate any changes directly to affected visa applicants,” the spokesperson added.

H-1B visas allow US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. Over the past few years, Indians have constituted the majority of H-1B visa holders. Indians comprised 72.3% of all H-1B visas issued by the US in the financial year 2022-'23.

On December 3, Washington had directed all foreign workers applying for H-1B visas and their dependents, who are issued H-4 visas, to keep their social media profiles public for them to be reviewed.

In June, the Donald Trump administration issued similar directions for student visa applicants, stating that the government would conduct a “comprehensive and thorough vetting”, including of their online presence.

These directions come amid Trump's intensified crackdown on immigration.

On September 19, Trump also signed an order requiring companies to pay $100,000 for each H-1B worker visa. However, two days after the rule came into effect, his administration clarified that the fee applies only to new applicants and does not affect current holders.

The notice on Wednesday on the vetting of social media accounts came amid the interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants scheduled for later this month in India being abruptly postponed by several months, PTI reported.

Some of the applicants, whose visa appointments were scheduled next week, received e-mails from the US immigration authorities informing them that their interviews had been pushed to as late as May next year.

The rescheduling affected applicants who were previously given appointments after December 15.

In a statement on social media, the US embassy said that if an applicant had received an email about their visa appointment being rescheduled, it would assist them with a new date.

“Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate,” it added.

Separately, the US is also proposing to review up to five years of social media history of visitors who are eligible to enter the country without a visa, including those from Britain, France, Germany and South Korea, The New York Times reported.

The proposed requirement would affect visitors eligible for the visa waiver programme, which allows citizens from 42 countries to travel to the US for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa as long as a electronic travel authorisation is obtained.

The proposal filed on Tuesday by the US Customs and Border Protection said that applicants may be asked to provide personal data, including their social media data, email addresses from the last decade, and the names, birth dates, places of residence and birthplaces of parents, spouses, siblings and children.

The notice said that the US Customs and Border Protection would accept 60 days of public comments on the proposal.

Under the current rules, applicants from visa waiver countries have to enrol in the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation programme, The New York Times reported. The authorisation can be used two years.

Along with a $40 fee, the applicants also submit an email address, home address, phone number and emergency contact information to enrol.

Source: Scroll
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