The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a rule mandating visa and green card applicants to disclose social media handles.
This initiative aims to enhance security screening but raises privacy concerns and potential risks of data misuse by immigration authorities.
According to TravelBiz, the rule would apply to immigration forms, including those for citizenship, asylum, and status adjustments.
The USCIS has published the proposal in the Federal Register, allowing a 60-day public comment period for feedback on its impact.
Affected applications include N-400 (naturalization), I-131 (advance parole), I-485 (green cards), I-589 (asylum), and refugee petitions.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supports this move, stating it strengthens security vetting through more comprehensive background checks.
However, immigration experts warn about possible misinterpretation of social media posts and the lack of clear evaluation guidelines.
Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden expressed concerns about how USCIS will analyze posts, store data, and flag potential issues.
“There is a risk applicants could be denied due to misinterpreted online activity or posts taken out of context,” he noted.
The USCIS has assured there will be no additional costs beyond standard filing fees, but scrutiny may cause delays.
Applicants and organizations can submit feedback during the 60-day period to address privacy, effectiveness, and procedural concerns.
