Trump: ‘Increased scrutiny’ of H-1B visa applications is ordered by the Trump administration: Report
Trump: administration has mandated “increased vetting of applicants” for H-1B visas, which may be a severe blow to Indian nationals seeking employment in the US. This comes only days after Indian nationals employed by US computer corporations were alarmed when President Donald Trump raised the H-1B visa costs to USD 100,000.
The US Department of State also released a document stating that anybody engaged in “censorship” of free expression should be rejected, according to a Reuters story. The government also instructed its embassies to examine the resumes and check the LinkedIn profiles of applicants for H-1B visas in a cable dated December 2.
Additionally, it said that the missions should carefully investigate if the candidates engaged in “misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance, and online safety” or similar activities.
“If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible,” the cable said, according to Reuters. “You must thoroughly explore their employment histories to ensure no participation in such activities.”
A spokesman for the US State Department said that the Trump administration does not want “aliens coming to the United States to work as censors muzzling Americans” and that the new guidelines apply to both new and existing applicants.
“In the past, social media firms shut the President’s accounts, subjecting him to this type of harassment. He does not want this kind of suffering to befall other Americans. The official told Reuters that “allowing foreigners to lead this type of censorship would both insult and injure the American people.”
Employing Chinese and Indian citizens allows many US companies to profit from the H-1B visa. However, the Trump administration has come under fire for its action against petitioners for H-1B visas. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar of India has also criticized the action, claiming that the US would only be hurting its own interests.
“If there are issues, say, in the US or Europe, it’s because they have carefully and purposefully let their companies to go over the last 20 years. At the World Annual Conclave 2025 in New Delhi on Wednesday, Jaishankar said, “It was their decision and plan.”