Trump Admin Unveils Tough New Rules for H-1B Visa Applicants Amid Fee Hike
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In a significant shift in immigration policy, the Trump administration has introduced stricter vetting for highly skilled H-1B visa applicants. This move comes on the heels of a substantial increase in application fees, which rose to $100,000 in September. The new rules, outlined in a confidential state department memo, aim to identify individuals involved in 'censorship' of free speech. Consular officers will be required to review the resumes and online profiles of H-1B applicants, as well as those of their family members, to assess their involvement in activities such as misinformation, content moderation, and online safety. According to the memo, applicants found to have participated in or been complicit in censorship of protected expression in the US may be deemed ineligible for the visa. The state department has yet to comment on the memo's contents. The heightened vetting applies to both new and repeat applicants, with a particular focus on the technology sector, where H-1B workers often find employment. The Trump administration has made free speech a key foreign policy priority, denouncing what it sees as the suppression of conservative voices online. This move follows the administration's tightening of student visa vetting, which includes screening for social media posts deemed hostile towards the US. The new policy has sparked concerns among tech companies, which rely heavily on H-1B workers, particularly from India and China.
