Trump Administration On H-1B Visa: The new order clearly states that ‘if you find any evidence that the applicant was responsible for or complicit in the censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you must take action to disqualify the applicant under the Immigration and Nationality Act.’
H-1B Visa: The Trump administration on Wednesday announced stricter vetting of applicants for H-1B visas, granted to highly skilled workers. An internal US State Department memo stated that anyone involved in the “censorship” of freedom of expression should be considered for visa denial. This move will have a direct and significant impact on thousands of technology professionals from countries like India and China who wish to work in the US.
The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields and is crucial for US technology companies, which recruit heavily from countries like India and China.
What changes have been made to visa vetting?
A confidential message sent to all US missions on December 2nd instructed US consular officials to thoroughly review the resumes or LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants and their accompanying family members. The review will examine whether applicants have worked in areas involving activities such as misinformation and disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance, and online safety.
The message clearly states, “If you find evidence that an applicant was responsible for or complicit in the censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should take action to disqualify the applicant under a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
Special Focus on the Tech Sector
The Trump administration believes that H-1B applicants, especially those working in the technology sector, are often employed by “social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected expression.” The new directive stresses that consular officials should conduct a ‘thorough check’ of applicants’ employment history to ensure they were not involved in such activities. These new visa check requirements will apply to both new and renewal applicants.
What is the Trump Administration’s ‘Free Speech’ Policy?
The Trump administration has consistently placed freedom of expression, particularly the suppression of conservative voices online, at the center of its foreign policy. Officials have repeatedly intervened in European politics, condemning alleged repression of right-wing politicians in Romania, Germany, and France. The Trump administration alleges that European officials are censoring views such as criticism of immigration under the guise of combating propaganda.
Previously, the Trump administration also significantly tightened vetting of student visa applicants, ordering US consular officials to screen for any social media posts that might be hostile to the United States.
