The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a new policy requiring visa and green card applicants to disclose their social media handles as part of security screening measures.
This rule would apply to various immigration forms, including:
N-400 (Naturalization application), I-131 (Advance parole), I-485 (Green card application) and the I-589 (Asylum application)
The proposal has raised concerns among immigration experts regarding how social media data will be used and interpreted.
Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden expressed uncertainty about:
How USCIS will interpret social media posts, How long the data will be stored and many more.
“There is a risk that applicants could face denials based on online activity that is taken out of context,” Wasden told TravelBiz.
The USCIS has opened a 60-day public comment period, allowing individuals and organizations to provide feedback before the rule is finalized.
This move is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to enhance security vetting through more comprehensive background checks. However, critics argue that it may compromise privacy and lead to arbitrary visa denials.
If implemented, this policy could affect thousands of visa applicants each year. The public comment period provides an opportunity for concerns to be addressed before the rule takes effect.