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Rajiv's Article - Enhanced social media vetting for student and exchange visas - What you need to know
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: April 04, 2025
Synopsis
The State Department's new social media screening measures affect F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa applicants, requiring mandatory reviews under certain conditions. These include broad interpretations of terrorist support and criteria for hostile attitudes toward U.S. institutions, potentially leading to visa revocations.
For more information on this article, please see the attachment below.
USCIS Forms Update - Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
USCIS recently updated the following form:
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
01/20/2025 12:37 PM EST
Edition Date: 01/20/25. Starting July 30, 2025, USCIS will accept only the 01/20/25 edition. Until then, you can also use the 01/17/25 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.
US Visa & Social Media: What you need to know about new screening policies and their impact
I believe there was a proposal to include social media handles as part of certain visa/immigration applications. Do you know what the consequences of that are?
If one has deleted social media accounts they don't have access to or accounts they don't remember the details for would that negatively impact the application? Also, is it just public posts that get reviewed or do private messages/dms get reviewed also?
As of June 24, 2025, the US Consulates have updated their policies for F (academic student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants. The key requirements are:
Public Privacy Settings: All your social media accounts must have their privacy settings adjusted to "public" so that the consulate can review them.
Disclosure of Usernames: You are required to list all social media usernames or handles from every platform you have used for the last 5 years. This includes accounts, even if they have since been deleted.
Failing to comply with these requirements, including omitting social media information or keeping accounts private, could lead to visa denial. The new policy aims to facilitate vetting to establish identity and admissibility to the United States.
Rajiv's Comments in the News - Major US student visa overhaul? Trump admin planning to cut stay time; How will new rule impact Indians
Published by: Business Today- July 02, 2025
https://www.businesstoday.in/nri/visa/story/major-us-student-visa-overh…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Rajiv's Comments in the News - US proposes ‘time limit’ on stay of foreign students: How it will impact Indians
Published by: Business Today- July 02, 2025
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/us-time-limit-rule-stay-foreign-st…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Guestbook Entry for Pastor Arlie Davis, United States
R Visa
We have obtained several R-1 visas. One case that presented an interesting challenge was where the applicant performed secular, administrative duties. CIS believed that an R visa was not appropriate. We were able to show facts and law that convinced the USCIS to issue the visa.
Nonimmigrant Visas
H-1B Filing Tips and Religious Workers Engagement
- USCIS Releases PowerPoint with H-1B filing tips provided during the 10/9/14 USCIS teleconference with CSC and VSC. The first session, from 11-11:45 a.m., focused on H-1B filing tips. The second session, from 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., focused on eligibility requirements for religious workers. Click the link below for deatil information:
USCIS explains its types of site visits
USCIS' Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) office has recently explained the three types of site visits that are currently being conducted:
1. Risk Assessment Program fraud study (RANDOM VISITS). This is a joint study by USCIS and ICE applicable to both family-based and employment-based cases. Cases are chosen for randomly for review and site visits usually after a case is approved. The purpose of this study is to build a profile of the types of cases where fraud is most prevalent.
R Visa Services and Fees
The fee schedule for R classification (USCIS requires all filing fees to be paid EITHER via ACH Transaction or Credit card) is as follows:
| 1. | Legal fees (for our Office) | $3,600 payable at the commencement of the case |
| 2. | Filing fees (to the USCIS) for Form I-129 |
$1,015 (for companies with 26 or more employees) $510 (if filing as a small employer with 25 or fewer employees or as a non-profit entity) |