The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has announced a new initiative to collect social media identifiers from individuals applying for immigration-related benefits.
This initiative, detailed in a 60-day notice set to be published in the Federal Register on March 5, aims to enhance identity verification and national security screening processes as mandated by Executive Order 14161, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
The notice, identified under OMB Control Number 1615-NEW, outlines a new information collection effort requiring applicants to provide their social media handles and associated platform names on various immigration forms. This measure is designed to comply with Section 2 of the executive order, signed on January 20, 2025, which calls for uniform vetting standards and rigorous screening of all grounds of inadmissibility or denial of immigration benefits.
“Executive Order 14161, ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,’ directs the implementation of uniform vetting standards and necessitates the collection of all information necessary for rigorous screening of all grounds of inadmissibility or bases for the denial of immigration-related benefits. See 90 FR 8451 (Jan. 20, 2025). Execution of the E.O. requires U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to collect social media identifier(s) data on immigration forms and/or within information collection systems. This data will be collected from certain populations of individuals applying for immigration-related benefits and is necessary for enhanced identity verification, vetting, national security screening, and inspections conducted by USCIS as required under the E.O.,” the Federal Register notice states.
The notice further clarifies: “This collection of information is necessary to comply with Section 2 of the E.O., which establishes enhanced screening and vetting standards and procedures enabling USCIS to assess an applicant’s eligibility to receive an immigration-related benefit. This data collection also helps validate an applicant’s identity and determine whether granting such a benefit poses a security or public safety threat to the United States.”
USCIS has identified this data as critical for validating applicants’ identities and assessing potential security or public safety risks. The collection will apply to forms such as the N-400 (Application for Naturalization), I-131 (Application for Travel Document), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), and several others. The agency estimates that the additional time burden for respondents will be minimal, averaging about five minutes per application. With an estimated 3.57 million respondents across these forms, the total annual public burden is projected at approximately 285,999 hours.
The initiative has triggered a public comment period, open for 60 days until May 4, 2025. USCIS is inviting feedback on the necessity and utility of the data collection, the accuracy of burden estimates, ways to improve the clarity and quality of the information gathered, and methods to minimize the burden on respondents, such as through electronic submission options.
According to the notice, no additional costs to the public are anticipated, as any expenses related to specific forms are already accounted for in existing collections. However, USCIS cautions that all submitted comments will be posted publicly without alteration, including any personal information provided, urging respondents to limit sensitive details in their submissions.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
