US Tightens Visa Checks, Wants H-1B, H-4 Social Profiles Public

• US expands social-media vetting to all H-1B, H-4 applicants.
• Stricter screening aims to curb visa misuse and enhance security.
• New fees and restrictions significantly impact Indian skilled workers.

The US government has intensified screening and vetting processes for H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents, instructing them to ensure that the privacy settings on all their social media accounts are set to "public".

In a recent notice, the State Department announced that starting December 15, an assessment of the online profiles for all H-1B applicants and their dependents will take place. Students and exchange visitors were previously under such scrutiny, which has now been broadened to encompass applicants for H-1B and H-4 visas.

“To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public',” the State Department said.

Emphasizing that a US visa is a privilege rather than a right, the department stated it utilizes all accessible information in its screening and vetting processes to detect visa applicants who are inadmissible or present a danger to America's national security or public safety.

The department stated that the US “must remain alert” to confirm that applicants do not plan to harm Americans and that all visa applicants convincingly prove their eligibility and intention to follow the conditions of their admission. The directive is the most recent measure from the Trump administration to strengthen immigration regulations.

The government has initiated an extensive effort to address the misuse of the H-1B visa program, primarily utilized by American tech firms to employ foreign labor. Indian professionals, such as tech employees and doctors, represent one of the largest categories of H-1B visa recipients.

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In September, US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation named ‘Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers’, imposing a one-time fee of USD 100,000 on new H-1B work visas, an action that may greatly affect Indian workers looking for temporary jobs in the US.

Independently, Washington has also halted with immediate effect Green Card, US citizenship, and other immigration applications for individuals from 19 “countries of concern”, in response to the shooting of National Guard members by an Afghan individual.