The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a new rule requiring applicants for green cards and visas to provide their social media handles, raising concerns over privacy and the potential misuse of personal data
The rule, aimed at tightening security screening, would apply to various immigration forms, including petitions for U.S. citizenship, asylum, and changing visa status from H-1B to a green card
The proposal was published in the Federal Register, and the public has been invited to comment for the next 60 days
This new rule would require applicants to list their social media handles on several immigration documents, such as:
N-400 for naturalization
I-131 for advance parole
I-485 for green card or adjustment of status
I-589 asylum form
It also affects applications for refugee status and requests for conditional residence removal.
The new rule aims to tighten national security vetting as part of continuous efforts to examine possible dangers posed by applicants.
The USCIS seeks to improve its evaluation of applicants’ online behavior in order to identify individuals who may pose security risks. While the law is framed as part of security measures, it has raised concerns about privacy protection and the accuracy of assessing online conduct.
The rule is not expected to affect the I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) used by H-1B workers for entry, but it will influence individuals applying for a green card based on an H-1B visa, according to reports.
In addition, the social media declaration will be included on form I-485, which is required for modifying status to permanent residency. Individuals wishing to transfer from an H-1B visa to a green card should be aware of this new requirement, as it may have serious long-term consequences.