US Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting with Mandatory Social Media Screening from Dec 15

The US government has announced a tighter vetting process for H-1B visa applicants and their dependents, including mandatory social media screening for all applicants starting December 15. In a recent order, the US State Department instructed applicants to change their social media profiles to a public setting to facilitate the screening process. This move is part of the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen national security and immigration policies. According to the department, every visa adjudication is a national security decision, and officers rely on all available information to determine admissibility and potential risks. The decision has raised concerns among Indian professionals, who form a significant group of H-1B visa holders. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to these concerns in Parliament, stating that the scrutiny of visa applicants is the prerogative of the host country. The US has also taken other immigration-tightening steps, including a crackdown on alleged misuse of the H-1B programme, imposition of a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B work visas, and halting Green Card, citizenship, and other immigration applications from nationals of 19 countries. A recent USCIS memorandum has also directed officials to place on hold all asylum applications pending a comprehensive review.