The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a new regulation that will require applicants for immigration benefits, including permanent residence (Green Card), citizenship and various visas, provide information about their social media accounts and digital platforms.
This measure, which was published today in the Federal Register for public comment for 60 days, is intended to allow USCIS officers to more fully evaluate the identity of applicants and determine whether they pose a risk to public safety or national security.
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Who would it affect?
This measure would apply to a wide range of requests, including:
- Permanent residence (Green Card)
- Citizenship
- Work visas
- Student visas
- Asylum or refuge
Applicants must provide the usernames or identifiers they use on platforms such as:
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Instagram
- LinkedIn
- Other relevant platforms
Collecting social media identifiers will facilitate background checks and detection of potential threats, says the document published in the Federal Registry.
The initiative is part of the executive order "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other Threats to National Security and Public Safety," which seeks to strengthen controls on people entering the country.
USCIS estimates that this measure will affect more than 900,000 applicants for citizenship, approximately one million applicants for adjustment of status for permanent residence and those who request asylum or refuge through Form I-589.
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It would become a common requirement
Currently, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are allowed to review the social media accounts of certain individuals in specific situations. However, with the implementation of this rule, disclosure of social media accounts will become a standard requirement on immigration benefit application forms.
Once the public comment period has concluded, USCIS will integrate the feedback received before publishing the final version of the regulations, a process that could take several weeks or months.
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