The United States has expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants worldwide as part of standard visa screening, US announced.
According to the advisory, the measure came into effect on December 15 and applies globally to applicants of all nationalities seeking H-1B and H-4 non-immigrant visas. The expanded screening includes additional reviews of applicants’ online presence during the visa vetting process.
Online presence reviews refer to the examination of information that visa applicants have made publicly available on the internet.
This may include social media activity, public posts, shared content and other online identifiers, and is carried out to verify applicant identity, assess eligibility and identify potential security or fraud-related concerns as part of routine background checks.
The mission said the move is aimed at addressing abuse of the H-1B programme while continuing to allow U.S. companies to hire highly skilled temporary foreign workers.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised fields such as information technology, engineering, medicine, finance, research and academia. It is employer-sponsored and typically issued for an initial period of three years, with extensions permitted in most cases.
The H-4 visa is issued to the immediate family members of H-1B visa holders, including spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21. H-4 visa holders are allowed to live and study in the United States, while eligible spouses may also apply for employment authorisation under specific conditions.
Despite the enhanced screening measures, U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide will continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 visa applications. Applicants have been advised to apply as early as possible and to anticipate longer processing times due to the additional vetting.
The expanded screening is being implemented by the U.S. Department of State as part of broader efforts to strengthen visa integrity and screening procedures, the advisory said. (Newswire)
