A recent State Department memo instructed officials in US consulates to review the employment history and LinkedIn profiles of H-1B visa applicants to screen for any previous employment involving the censorship of free speech. The H-1B visa allows individuals with specialized knowledge to temporarily work in the United States and is generally held by those in STEM fields and academia.
According to the memo, initial and repeat H-1B applicants will be required to share their resumes and LinkedIn profiles to immigration officers before their petition may be adjudicated. Officers will check their employment history for work in fields which they believe censored free speech, moderated content, and spread misinformation or disinformation. The memo directs officers to reject the applicant’s petition if they find evidence of the same.
While the memo’s instructions apply to all visa applicants, it emphasized more rigorous screening for H-1B petitions, as many H-1B holders work in the technology sector and are more likely to have engaged in censorship.
H-1B applicants and their dependents will also be required to make their social media accounts public for additional screening, a directive issued earlier this year for student visa applications (F, J, and M) as well. According to the Department of State, these measures are to protect the national security and interests of the United States.
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