US immigration rules tighten, see what changes from October 1
Social media checks expand
The US Department of State has expanded online presence reviews to additional visa categories from October 1. Applicants for I, TN and TD visas must make their social media profiles public or open for review.
The I category covers foreign media representatives, while TN and TD visas apply to eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals and their dependants under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The latest measure adds these categories to an existing screening system covering students, temporary workers, exchange visitors and several other visa groups.
More than 250,000 visas revoked
The State Department says it has revoked more than 250,000 visas since Trump returned to office. Reported reasons include visa violations, criminal activity, fraud, misuse of the immigration system and national security concerns.
Around 2,300 visa revocations were linked to birth tourism, according to reports. US authorities have also focused on some B1 and B2 visa holders who later sought asylum.
Green card rules also change
The new US fiscal year has reset annual employment-based immigration limits. Some employment-based categories have advanced, while applicants from certain countries may still face lengthy waits.
The impact of the changes depends on an applicant’s visa category, immigration status, nationality and, for green card cases, priority date.
