Concerns are rising among US immigration lawyers. The US Citizenship Office (USCIS) has begun requesting H-1B Visa applicants for home address details and biometric data. This is a departure from previous practice. This development coincides with the Trump administration’s strengthened enforcement clampdown, bringing major challenges to international students studying at more than 240 universities nationwide.
Immigration officers are issued a request for evidence (RFE) in H-1B visa cases and seek personal data, including home address and biometric authentication. The move raised questions about the federal agency’s intentions.
These RFEs are rare, according to immigration lawyers. This is because biometric authentication is not usually required to apply for H-1B visas. Vic Goel, immigration lawyer for Goel & Anderson, expressed surprise at the request. Forbes“This is very unusual because it’s not generally necessary for these case types.”
RFEs often lack clear explanations to request such information, causing confusion for foreign employers and their immigration lawyers. Goel advises on dealing directly with these RFEs and instead cites 8 CFR 103.2(b)(16)(i).
USCIS’s new approach raised concerns about the institution’s intentions and the potential impact on foreign workers and students.
