Washington:The Trump administration has introduced new rules that will make the H-1B visa process stricter for applicants and their dependents. According to an internal memo shared with United States diplomatic missions on December 2 consular officers must now carry out enhanced background checks before approving the visas.
The new process requires officers to review resumes LinkedIn profiles and other online activity of applicants. It also applies to relatives who travel on dependent H-4 visas. The memo states that if there is evidence that an applicant has worked in areas such as content moderation misinformation checks or online safety and was involved in activities seen as censorship of free speech in the United States the visa may be refused.
The US State Department later confirmed that the new rule has now been formally included as part of the visa screening process. It stated that the enhanced review will include employment verification detailed role checks and deeper social media scrutiny. Applicants may also be asked to keep their online profiles public during the review period.
This change is part of a broader move by the Trump administration to limit the influence of foreign workers in technology and communication roles where decisions related to online speech are made. Government officials have argued that certain global platforms and tech professionals may have played a role in suppressing political speech online during previous years.
The new rule applies to both first time applicants and those seeking renewal or returning travel clearance. This means H-1B and H-4 visa holders who leave the country and attempt to reenter may face additional delays or risk being denied entry.
Immigration experts say the policy could especially affect workers from countries like India and China as they represent the largest share of H-1B holders in the United States. Some US companies that depend heavily on foreign technical talent have expressed concern that the new procedures may slow hiring and reduce workforce availability in key sectors.
The measure follows other recent policy changes including increased documentation requirements and a proposal to raise H-1B processing fees. Earlier this year the administration also introduced restrictions that require certain visa applicants to pay a large supplemental fee before entering the United States.
While some political leaders have supported the move saying it protects American jobs and free speech others argue it may discourage skilled workers from contributing to the US economy.
More updates are expected as the policy begins to take effect in embassies and consulates worldwide in the coming weeks.