New US rule to force immigrants to mention their social media handles in all immigration applications

Immigration to the United States may require access to your social media accounts. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security has proposed collection of new information from foreigners in their immigration applications. 

USCIS has mandated the collection of social media identifiers or handles and platform names from applicants for identity verification, national security screening, vetting, and inspections. This data collection will be used to help validate an applicant’s identity and determine whether such grant of a benefit poses a security or public-safety threat to the United States.

Executive Order “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” directs implementation of uniform vetting standards and necessitates the collection of all information necessary for a rigorous vetting and screening of all grounds of inadmissibility or bases for the denial of immigration-related benefits

The collection of information is crucial to comply with the Executive Order, which mandates uniform vetting standards and rigorous screening of grounds of inadmissibility or denial of immigration-related benefits, ensuring national security and public safety. 

The E.O. mandates USCIS to gather social media identifier data from specific populations for enhanced identity verification, vetting, national security screening, and inspection, specifically for immigration-related benefits applications, as part of the enhanced identity verification process.

All foreign immigrants, including Indians applying for H-1B, F-1 student visa or US Green Cards, will be impacted as they now have to share their social media account details.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-h-1b-f-1-and-green-card-applicants-to-share-social-media-information-for-us-immigration-proposal-3773347/