The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a new rule that requires applicants for green cards and visas to disclose their social media handles.
The initiative aims to strengthen security screening, but it has raised concerns about privacy and potential misuse of data.
The proposed rule would apply to various immigration forms, including applications for US citizenship, asylum, and adjustments of status from an H-1B visa to a green card.
Specifically, forms like the N-400 for naturalisation, I-131 for advance parole, I-485 for green card applications, and I-589 for asylum will be affected.
US Africa Online reports that the immigration experts have expressed concerns about how social media information will be interpreted and used.
Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden stated, “It remains unclear how USCIS will interpret posts, how long they will store data, or what guidelines they will use to flag concerns.”
He also warned that applicants may face denials based on online activity taken out of context, saying, “There is also a risk that applicants could face denials based on online activity that is taken out of context”, as quoted by TravelBiz.
The USCIS has opened a 60-day public comment period, allowing individuals and organizations to provide feedback on the proposed rule. This is an opportunity for the public to express concerns about the rule’s necessity, effectiveness, and impact before it is finalized.
Reports indicate that this move by the US Immigration to request social media handles of visa applicants is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) effort to enhance security vetting through more comprehensive background checks.
