The Department of State has updated application forms for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas to include requests for additional information, including emails, phone numbers, and social media identifiers. 

Applicants must now submit any usernames used on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, Weibo, and other social media over the past 5 years. Previously, this information was only sought in situations where additional scrutiny was warranted, such as with individuals who traveled to terrorist-controlled areas.

We believe that this requirement is overreaching and it could continue to dissuade top talent from wanting to immigrate to the United States. 

Research shows that highly-skilled foreign nationals are already looking elsewhere. Instead of the United States, the most popular destinations for top talent are now Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Canada.