People applying for US citizenship or permanent residency may soon have to disclose their social media handles to the government.
US government will require applicants for citizenship or residency to provide their social media handles. This is part of a new effort to improve screening measures.
Why the requirement?
- To verify applicants’ identities
- To assess whether granting immigration benefits might pose security or public safety risks
What information will be requested?
- Usernames or “handles” for social media accounts used in the past five years
- Not passwords
Which forms will request this information?
- Immigration forms, including DS-160, DS-156, and DS-260
How will the information be used?
- USCIS officers will look for content that may raise red flags or that is not compatible with the information provided during the petition process
