On March 5, 2025, USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register titled “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Social Media Identifier(s) on Immigration Forms”. The notice states: “This collection of information is necessary to comply with section 2 of the Executive order (E.O.) entitled ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,’ which directs implementation of uniform vetting standards and requires 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. In a review of information collected for admission and benefit decisions, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) identified the need to collect social media identifiers (‘handles’) and associated social media platform names from applicants to enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections.”
Important Note & Public Comment Period
This is not in effect yet, but if implemented, nonimmigrants applying for certain benefits through USCIS might need to share their social media handles. This document is now open to public comment until May 5, 2025. Public comments can be submitted here.
Update (June 18, 2025)
See Enhanced Social Media Vetting for H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants.
