Filipino teachers face visa delays as US expands social media checks

NEW YORK — Thousands of Filipino teachers are now experiencing delays in the processing of their visa amid the new policy being implemented by the United States Department of State.

Under the new policy, US Citizenship and Immigration Services will review all the social media accounts of an applicant as part of the enhanced vetting process to determine whether an applicant may be granted a U.S. nonimmigrant visa.

The expanded requirements took effect on December 15.

Applicants for H-1B work visas and their dependents (H-4), J visas for exchange visitors, F visas for academic students, and M visas for vocational students are instructed to adjust the settings on all of their social media accounts to public.

Rommer Jazo, chief executive officer of RCC Staffing Solution USA Corp. based in New York, told GMA Integrated News that processing previously took eight to 12 months but now applicants are waiting 14 to 16 months due to an additional two to four months of vetting. 

He added that expedited processing, which used to take 15 to 20 days, now takes 30 to 45 days.

“The process has slowed down somewhat because several months have been added to the visa processing time due to additional vetting. However, we fully support and respect the implementation of the enhanced vetting process as part of the United States’ national security measures," he said.

"We strongly advise all visa applicants to make their social media accounts publicly accessible and to exercise caution and responsibility in their online postings, ensuring that all shared content is consistent with the purpose of their visa applications,” Jazo added.

Immigration lawyer and Bergenfield, New Jersey Mayor Arvin Amatorio also advised applicants to be mindful of their social media posts, stressing the importance of complying with the new U.S. immigration rules being enforced for visa applicants.

“I would gently remind applicants, especially our kababayans, to be mindful that what they share publicly should align with what they state in their visa applications. For example, posting plans to get married or to stay permanently in the U.S. while applying for a tourist or student visa can raise questions, and posts that touch on security concerns or show extreme hostility toward the U.S. may lead to closer review. At the end of the day, following the rules is important, but the process should always be applied fairly and with respect for the people whose lives are affected by these decisions,” Amatorio told GMA Integrated News in a message.

According to Amatorio, the focus of the review should be on consistency and credibility relevant to the visa’s purpose, not lawful personal expression.

“I see this as part of the current administration’s effort to apply more scrutiny to the immigration process, with social media review being one area they’re expanding. It can be a legitimate vetting step, as long as it stays focused on consistency and credibility relevant to the visa’s purpose, not lawful personal expression,” he said.

In an announcement, the US State Department said the new policy is important to America’s security.

“The State Department uses all available information in visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety. We conduct thorough vetting of all visa applicants, including online presence review of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications,” it said.

According to the State Department, the granting of a US visa is a privilege, not a right.

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms of their admission. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the announcement said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News