Indian workers on H-1B visas who returned to India this month to renew their US work permits were reportedly thrown into chaos after US consulates suddenly canceled their appointments and pushed them back several months. From personal information discrepancies to locked social media profiles, many aspects of social media can get H-1B visa applicants into trouble.
Hundreds of meetings were canceled between December 15 and December 26 – a window that many H-1B holders choose because it coincides with the US holiday season.
Under the social media rules the Trump administration reiterated, H-1B visa applicants are required to have consular officials review publicly accessible posts, photos, comments, links and biographies on all declared platforms, adding a new layer of caution for those seeking work visas.
H-1B Visa: What Aspects of Social Media Can Get You In Trouble?
- Profile is not public – Immigration lawyers have said that if an H-1B visa applicant’s social media profile is locked, there is a chance that their visa application will be immediately revoked.
- Social media outside of FB, Insta- This means that officials can check the content posted on platforms like – Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, any other platform where the applicant has a profile.
- Irregularities, red flags – One immigration attorney, Brad Bernstein, explained that officials scour social media for red flags such as discrepancies in personal information; indications that the applicant intends to settle permanently in the US; hostile remarks about the US; expressions of support for extremist groups; gaps or doubts in the work history and even signs that posts may have been deleted after the visa application was submitted.
- Not only the present, but also the past… Applicants must review not only current content, but also older public posts, comments, photos, tagged content, and profile information.
- “Google yourself” – Bernstein added that officials can even review any resume posted on the Internet, any blog on the applicant’s name or YouTube comment — virtually anything that appears on the Internet when one searches for an H-1B visa applicant’s name.
- Gaps in details– If an H-1B applicant’s social media suggests unauthorized employment, inconsistent qualifications, or other red flags, the consulate may issue a 221(g) petition or even deny it, according to The Immigration Group.
In recent years, Indians accounted for an estimated 71% of approved H-1B applications, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The H-1B program allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers with specialized skills for an initial period of three years, renewable for an additional three years.
