By Washington, March 5, 2025 – Indian nationals applying for US green card could soon be required to disclose their social media accounts as part of their immigration paperwork. In an official notification dated March 5, 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) outlined a plan to gather this information from over 3.5 million immigrants annually, including Indian applicants for green cards, US citizenship, and other immigration benefits.
This move is expected to significantly impact Indian professionals, particularly those in STEM fields, individuals applying for H-1B visas, and entrepreneurs seeking EB-5 investor visas or business-related permits. Immigration experts warn that even casual social media activity or private conversations might influence visa decisions.
The US government has opened a 60-day public comment period, allowing individuals to share their views before DHS makes a final decision on whether to enforce, revise, or discard the proposed regulation.
What Does the US Plan Entail?
Under Executive Order 14161, signed by President Donald Trump in January 2025, DHS has been instructed to tighten immigration screening processes. This order, which reinstates several policies from the previous administration, requires federal agencies to evaluate visa and immigration processes for security risks.
As part of this initiative, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will mandate that applicants submit their social media usernames across nine key immigration forms. However, officials clarified that passwords will not be required. The primary goal of this policy is to verify applicants’ identities and assess potential security risks.
What This Means for Indian Applicants about Green Card
If this regulation is implemented, Indian immigrants will need to share their social media details as part of their visa applications. Experts suggest this could lead to increased scrutiny of applicants’ online activity, posts, and digital interactions.
“Authorities will closely analyze online behavior, including seemingly harmless posts or interactions that might raise concerns under the US’s stricter immigration policies,” said Varun Singh, Managing Director of XIPHIAS Immigration, in a statement to Business Standard.
He also cautioned that misinterpretations of past comments or opinions could negatively impact visa approvals.
“A single outdated comment or casual remark could now be viewed out of context, potentially affecting an applicant’s immigration process,” Singh added.
To avoid complications, Ketan Mukhija, a senior partner at Burgeon Law, advised immigrants to be mindful of their digital presence.
“Applicants should review their social media accounts, adjust privacy settings, and ensure that their online profiles are consistent with the details provided in their immigration applications,” he said.
How Indian Applicants Can Prepare for Green Card
To reduce the risk of complications, Singh shared a few key recommendations for Indian applicants:
- Review past social media activity: Go through old posts, comments, and shared content to remove anything that could be misinterpreted.
- Ensure consistency: The details on immigration forms should match social media profiles to avoid raising red flags.
- Be cautious with online associations: Interactions with politically sensitive groups or controversial discussions could be misunderstood.
- Think before posting: Carefully consider how a post or comment might be perceived by immigration officials.
- Seek legal advice: Consulting an immigration lawyer can help applicants navigate these new screening measures.
How USCIS Monitors Social Media
USCIS officials have long monitored social media for potential fraud or security risks, but this new initiative broadens the scope of surveillance. Immigration officers will be specifically looking for:
- Fraud detection – Identifying discrepancies between online activity and visa applications.
- Security threats – Investigating any potential ties to extremist groups.
- Verification of relationships – Ensuring that family-based immigration applications are legitimate.
- Employment history – Cross-checking LinkedIn and other professional profiles to confirm work experience.
- Identity confirmation – Verifying that social media accounts match official documents.
- Character assessment – Reviewing posts for signs of unlawful behavior or moral concerns.
- Immigration violations – Detecting any evidence of unauthorized work or visa breaches.
- Data consistency – Ensuring that information on immigration applications aligns with online profiles.
If officials find concerning content, applicants may be questioned during interviews or asked to provide additional documentation. Any major inconsistencies could lead to a Notice of Intent to Deny or legal consequences.
Which Immigration Forms Are Affected?
The social media screening requirement will apply to the following USCIS forms:
- N-400 (Application for Naturalization)
- I-131 (Application for Travel Document)
- I-192 (Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant)
- I-485 (Application for Adjustment of Status)
- I-589 (Application for Asylum)
- I-590 (Refugee Classification Registration)
- I-730 (Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition)
- I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence)
- I-829 (Investor Petition to Remove Conditions on Permanent Residence)
While DHS has not yet disclosed how this social media data will be stored or processed, officials confirmed that usernames, aliases, and related information will become part of an applicant’s permanent immigration file.
Looking Ahead
As the US government moves forward with this proposal, Indian visa applicants must remain vigilant about their online activity. Immigration lawyers emphasize that proactively managing social media presence will be crucial for those seeking US visas, green cards, or citizenship.
With the public comment period open for 60 days, applicants and immigration experts are expected to weigh in on the potential impact of this policy before DHS makes a final decision.
