US will expand social media, work history vetting for H-1B visas

"The United States is expanding its vetting process for highly skilled H-1B visa applicants to include more social media checks, as applicants working in fields like misinformation and disinformation will also face enhanced scrutiny. The US Department of State said Thursday that all H-1B applicants and their dependants must make all their social media profiles public to ensure they do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests."

"As part of its enhanced checks, the State Department will also scrutinise H-1B applications for work in fields that promote the censorship of free speech, according to an internal cable obtained by the Reuters news agency. The December 2 cable orders consular staff to review applicants' LinkedIn and employment history for any work in misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety or social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected expression."

"If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible, the cable said. The move marks a departure for the US State Department, which once funded overseas projects aimed at fact-checking and at fighting misinformation and disinf"

The United States is expanding visa vetting for H-1B applicants to include broader social media checks and public profiles for applicants and dependants. The State Department will scrutinise work histories and LinkedIn records for roles in misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance, online safety, and companies linked to suppression of protected expression. Evidence of responsibility for or complicity in censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States can render an applicant ineligible. The policy applies to renewals and accompanying family members and marks a shift from prior support for overseas fact-checking projects.

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