The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a proposal that would require visa and green card applicants to provide their social media handles as part of the application process.
This move, aimed at enhancing security screening, has raised concerns about privacy and potential misuse of personal data.
According to TravelBiz, the policy would apply to multiple immigration forms, including those for U.S. citizenship, asylum, and status adjustments, such as transitioning from an H-1B visa to a green card.
The USCIS has published the proposal in the Federal Register and has opened a 60-day period for public comments, allowing individuals and organizations to share their views before the policy is finalized.
If implemented, the requirement will affect several key immigration forms, including the N-400 for naturalization, I-131 for advance parole, I-485 for green card applications, and I-589 for asylum seekers. Those applying for refugee status or petitioning to remove conditions on their residency will also be impacted.
Reports suggest that this initiative is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) broader strategy to strengthen security vetting through detailed background checks. However, immigration experts have expressed concerns about how social media activity will be interpreted and whether it could lead to unjust denials.
Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden raised concerns about the lack of clarity on how USCIS will analyze social media content, store the collected data, and determine what constitutes a red flag. He warned that applicants could face rejections based on posts that might be misinterpreted or taken out of context.
The USCIS has assured that the new requirement will not add additional costs beyond standard filing fees.
However, the additional layer of scrutiny could complicate applications, potentially leading to delays due to the time required for reviewing social media activity.
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