1 day ago
US Expands Social Media Screening to More Visa Applicants
The United States has expanded its checks of visa applicants’ social media.
The new rule began on October 1.
It applies to foreign media workers applying for I visas, some Canadian and Mexican professionals applying for TN visas, and their dependents applying for TD visas.
These applicants must make their social media profiles public or open.
The United States already checks online information for applicants in several other visa categories.
The State Department says it uses available information to decide whether applicants qualify and whether they could pose a safety risk.
The department did not explain exactly which posts might affect a decision.
It says getting a visa is a privilege, not an automatic right.
The expanded social media screening requirement took effect October 1.
It covers applicants for I visas, TN visas and TD visas.
Applicants must set all social media profiles to public or open.
Existing online vetting applies to several other visa categories, including H-1B, student and exchange visitor visas.
The State Department says screening helps assess eligibility and identify potential national security or public safety concerns.
- Who
- Applicants for I, TN and TD nonimmigrant visas.
- What
- They are required to make all social media profiles public or open for expanded screening.
- Where
- United States visa screening.
- When
- The requirement took effect October 1.
- Why
- The State Department says it uses available information to assess visa eligibility and identify potential national security or public safety concerns.
Key facts
- Effective date
- October 1
- Newly covered visas
- I, TN and TD nonimmigrant visas
- Required account setting
- Social media profiles must be set to public or open
- I visas
- Issued to foreign media representatives
- TN visas
- For eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals
- TD visas
- For dependents of TN visa holders
- Existing coverage
- Online vetting already applies to categories including H-1B workers and dependents, students, and exchange visitors
- Evaluation details
- The department did not specify how social media activity or individual posts would affect visa decisions
Quotes
The State Department
US government department responsible for visa screening
“The United States remains vigilant throughout the visa issuance process to confirm that applicants do not intend to cause harm to Americans or threaten US interests, and that each applicant can credibly demonstrate eligibility for the visa requested—including a genuine intent to abide by the terms of admission.”
thehansindia.com
“To support this vetting process, all applicants for I, TD, and TN nonimmigrant visas are instructed to set the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public’ or ‘open,’”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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