US tightens work visa process with social media checks for H-1B, H-4 applicants from Dec 15

Hyderabad: Beginning December 15, the US government will begin enhanced screening and vetting of H-1B and its dependent H-4 visa applicants, including checks of their social media profiles.

In their statement, the State Department said that a review of the online presence for all H-1B applicants and their dependents will be conducted.

Vetting purview expanded

Students and exchange visitors were already subject to this review, and now the department has expanded this requirement to vet social media profiles to include H1-B applicants and their dependents on H-4 visas

“This vetting is being conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas. It is an effort to address abuse of the H-1B program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers. US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 non-immigrant visa applications. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications,” said the State Department in a statement.

Geopolitical developments are forcing changes

Speaking to NewsMeter, Vishweshwar Reddy Kalavala, Founder and Chairman of Global Telangana Association (GTA), said, “Before they come to the US, H1-B applicants and their dependents on H-4 visas, the social media accounts will be checked. They have to share all their social media links. This is perhaps in response to the November attack on National Guard members in Washington, DC and other geopolitical events.”

Following the attacks, US President Donald Trump and US immigration agencies have implemented initiatives and rolled out proposals to expand existing travel bans and increase vetting and personnel data collection of visa applicants and travellers entering and exiting the United States.