US Expands Social Media Screening for H-1B Visa Applicants Amid National Security Concerns

Image Source: Internet

The US government has started screening the social media presence of all H-1B and H-4 dependent visa applicants, expanding its vetting process to identify potential national security risks. This move follows a similar policy introduced for student and exchange visitor visa applicants in June. According to officials, the new 'online presence reviews' will assess the online activity of applicants to determine their eligibility for a visa. This process aims to ensure that applicants do not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States. The expansion of social media vetting has led to a rescheduling of visa appointments for H-1B visa holders and H-4 dependent visa holders in India. Immigration lawyers warn that the added screening may result in longer wait times for interviews and increased processing times for these visa categories. While the impact of the new reviews may be felt, experts do not anticipate them making it much harder to qualify for an H-1B visa. The US Embassy has assured that it will take the necessary time to ensure that applicants do not pose a risk to national security and have credibly established their eligibility for the visa.