The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a new rule that would require applicants for green cards and visas to divulge their social media handles. This effort, which aims to tighten security screening, has raised concerns about privacy and data exploitation.
The rule would apply to numerous immigration forms, including petitions for US citizenship, asylum, and modifications of status from an H-1B visa to a green card, according to TravelBiz. The USCIS has published the proposal in the Federal Register and encouraged the public to make comments within 60 days. The new requirement will apply to a variety of immigration forms, including the N-400 for naturalisation, I-131 for advance parole, I-485 for green card applications, and I-589 for asylum.
Applications for refugee status and requests for conditional residency removal will also be impacted. According to reports, the decision by US Immigration to obtain visa applicants’ social media handles is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) aim to improve security vetting through more complete background checks.
However, immigration experts have expressed concern over how social media data will be interpreted and exploited. Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden expressed concern about how USCIS will view social media activities. “It remains unclear how USCIS will interpret posts, how long they will store data, or what guidelines they will use to flag concerns,” he told me. He also warned that candidates could face denials based on online activity that is taken out of context.
“There is also a risk that applicants could face denials based on online activity that is taken out of context,” says Wasden. The USCIS has initiated a 60-day public comment process in which individuals and organisations can submit feedback on the proposed regulation. This gives the public the opportunity to express concerns about its necessity, efficacy, and impact before it is implemented.
According to reports, while the USCIS has informed applicants that there would be no additional charges beyond usual filing fees, the demand for social media disclosure adds another layer of scrutiny. This could potentially complicate applications, causing delays while social media activity is reviewed.
