The
US government has expanded its
security screening for visa applicants, now requiring
H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents to keep their social media profiles
public during the application process. This move is part of broader efforts to strengthen
vetting and background checks.
1. Who Is Affected? 👥
The new directive applies to:·
H-1B visa holders — skilled foreign professionals working in the US·
H-4 visa dependents — spouses and children of H-1B holdersApplicants must ensure that all social media accounts are
accessible for review by US authorities during the visa process.
2. Social Media Transparency Requirement 📱
The US government now instructs visa applicants to:· Set
all social media profiles to public· Provide accurate account information during visa applications· Avoid deleting accounts, as authorities may review historical content
3. Purpose: Security Vetting 🔍
The move is aimed at:·
Assessing applicants’ backgrounds and affiliations·
Detecting potential security threats· Strengthening overall
immigration and national security measures4. Impact on Applicants ⚖️
Applicants may need to:· review past posts for any content that could be flagged· Be cautious with public social media activity· Understand that privacy settings will
not shield profiles during this period
5. Part of a Wider Visa Crackdown 🇺🇸
This is part of a
broader tightening of US visa policies, with additional screening measures being applied across work, student, and dependent visas to ensure
rigorous vetting of foreign nationals.
✅ Takeaway:
H-1B and H-4 visa applicants must now
keep their social media profiles public and be aware that their online activity could be reviewed during the
US security vetting process. This marks a significant expansion in immigration screening policies.
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