The Trump administration starts strict vetting for H-1B visas for highly skilled workers. U.S. officials will now check resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and past job roles. Anyone linked with censorship of free speech will be rejected, according to a State Department cable.
U.S. President Donald Trump orders tighter checks for H-1B visa applicants. The order goes to all U.S. missions on December 2, as confirmed in a State Department cable. H-1B visas allow U.S. companies to hire skilled workers from abroad. Tech companies depend on this visa because they often recruit talent from India, China, and other countries.
The Trump administration asks U.S. diplomats to study the resumes and LinkedIn profiles of applicants. Officers must also check the profiles of family members who plan to travel with them. The cable lists areas like misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance, and online safety. These are the fields that need close review.
The cable says an applicant cannot get the visa if the officer finds any past work that blocked or limited legal speech in the United States. It says this rule comes from the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
The new checks apply to new applicants and repeat applicants. This is one of the strongest checks placed on H-1B visas so far.
Focus on free speech.
The Trump administration calls free speech a key part of its foreign policy. A State Department spokesperson says the United States will not allow foreigners to work as censors of Americans. The spokesperson also says Trump faced action from social media companies in the past and does not want other Americans to face the same issue.
The cable states that all visa categories fall under this rule, but the H-1B group needs deeper checks. Many H-1B applicants work in social media firms or financial service companies. These are areas that U.S. officials claim have links with suppression of speech.
The order adds new pressure on the tech sector, which supported Trump in the last election. It also adds uncertainty for foreign workers who plan to apply for H-1B visas in the coming months.
