The Trump administration has announced stricter vetting procedures for H-1B visa applicants, which are essential for U.S. tech companies that heavily recruit from India and China. An internal memo from the State Department, sent to all U.S. missions on December 2, outlines new rejection criteria focusing on applicants involved in "censorship" of free speech. This move follows a significant increase in application fees for H-1B visas, which now stand at $100,000 as of September.

The memo instructs consular officers to thoroughly review the resumes and LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants and their accompanying family members. They are to look for any involvement in activities related to misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance, and online safety. The memo states, "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."

This enhanced scrutiny particularly impacts Indian applicants, who make up over 70% of H-1B visa holders. The new rules may lead to delays, additional questioning, or even denials for many Indian tech professionals and their families. Given that many of these individuals work in key IT and digital roles, they are likely to face greater scrutiny than applicants from other countries.

The Trump administration has emphasized free speech as a key aspect of its foreign policy, often criticizing perceived censorship of conservative voices. In May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened visa bans for individuals who censor speech by Americans, including on social media. This latest policy is part of a broader crackdown on immigration and follows previous measures that tightened vetting for student visa applicants, requiring checks on social media posts that may be hostile towards the U.S.

As the new vetting requirements apply to both new and repeat applicants, many Indian families are left uncertain about their future in the U.S. tech industry, which relies heavily on skilled workers from India and China. The State Department has not yet commented on the memo's contents, leaving many questions unanswered for those affected by these changes.