Social Media Disclosure for Green Card Applicants

The Trump administration has introduced a new immigration policy proposal requiring the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to collect social media account information from green card applicants and certain other immigration applicants. On March 5, 2025, USCIS announced that social media accounts—such as Facebook and Instagram—would become part of the application process for individuals seeking to enter the U.S. or apply for asylum.

While visa applicants have already been required to disclose social media handles in recent years, this proposed rule expands that requirement to a broader range of immigration-related forms.

📌 The proposal would apply to the following 9 immigration forms: 

• N-400 – Application for Naturalization

• I-131 – Application for Travel Document (Re-entry Permit, Advance Parole)

• I-192 – Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant

• I-485 – Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

• I-589 – Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal

• I-590 – Registration for Classification as Refugee

• I-730 – Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition

• I-751 – Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

• I-829 – Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status

🔍 Why is USCIS reviewing applicants' social media accounts? 

U.S. immigration officials consider social media screening a tool for ensuring national security and verifying the integrity of applicants. The goal is to cross-check applicants' statements with their online presence, verifying the accuracy and consistency of submitted information. Key purposes include: 

• Fraud detection – Identifying inconsistencies between social media content and information on the application

• National security – Flagging content that may indicate links to terrorist or extremist organizations or threats to public safety

• Relationship verification – Especially for family-based petitions, confirming the authenticity of the claimed relationship

• Employment verification – Reviewing professional networks (e.g., LinkedIn) to assess work history and qualifications

• Identity confirmation – Ensuring that the person in the application matches the person represented online

• Character assessment – Detecting signs of criminal behavior or poor moral character

• Immigration violations – Looking for evidence of unauthorized work or misuse of visa status

• Overall consistency – Reviewing whether information across platforms matches the application

📣 Public Comment Period Open Until May 5, 2025

The proposal is currently undergoing the federal public comment process, during which the public can submit feedback on the Federal Register website.

Some public commenters have raised constitutional concerns, particularly regarding privacy rights and the potential for government overreach or misuse of personal data.

After the comment period closes on May 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will review and evaluate the feedback. A final decision—whether to implement the rule as proposed, revise it, or withdraw it—is expected before the summer.