Washington (US) [United States], December 8 (HBTV): The White House on Saturday signalled renewed momentum behind its immigration agenda, linking employment-related restrictions to its broader ‘America First’ policy framework. In a post on X, the White House wrote, ‘AMERICA FIRST,’ adding, ‘President Trump is cracking down on work permits and tightening the vetting process.’
In line with this approach, the US government has introduced enhanced screening requirements for H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents, which include mandatory social media checks starting December 15. Under the new guidelines, applicants must change their social media accounts to a ‘public’ setting so officials can examine online activity as part of the visa review process.
In an order issued on Wednesday, the US State Department stated, ‘To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public”.’ The department reiterated that obtaining a US visa is ‘a privilege and not a right’, noting that ‘every visa adjudication is a national security decision’. It said consular officers would rely on all available information to determine admissibility and assess security risks, adding that the United States ‘must be vigilant’ to ensure applicants do not intend to cause harm.
The announcement has raised concern among Indian nationals, who form one of the largest groups of H-1B workers in the United States. The policy shift follows other immigration-related steps under President Donald Trump’s administration, including measures addressing alleged misuse of the H-1B programme frequently used by US technology companies.
In September, Trump issued a proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, introducing a one-time fee of USD 100,000 on new H-1B visa applications — a move expected to significantly impact Indian professionals seeking employment in the US.
In another development, Washington has temporarily halted the processing of Green Card, citizenship and other immigration applications for nationals from 19 ‘countries of concern’ following a shooting incident involving an Afghan citizen. A US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) memorandum issued Tuesday directed officials to ‘place on hold’ all asylum claims pending further review.
The action followed a shooting in Washington DC that resulted in the death of US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and left US Air Force Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, critically injured. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Lakanwal, reportedly arrived in the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, a programme set up for Afghan nationals after the 2021 Taliban takeover. (ANI)