The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a new policy requiring visa and green card applicants to disclose their social media handles.

The move is aimed at enhancing security vetting, though it has sparked concerns over privacy and potential misuse of online data.

The policy applies to various immigration forms, including applications for US citizenship, asylum, and status adjustments.

Affected forms include the N-400 for naturalisation, I-131 for advanced parole, I-485 for green cards, and I-589 for asylum.

Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden questioned the lack of clarity regarding how USCIS will interpret social media posts, how long data will be stored, and the criteria for flagging concerns.

“There is also a risk that applicants could face denials based on online activity that is taken out of context,” he told TravelBiz.

The USCIS has opened a 60-day public comment period, allowing individuals and organisations to submit feedback on the rule before its final implementation.

Reports indicate that this policy is part of a broader effort by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen background checks through digital surveillance.