Indian Green Card Holder Alarmed by USCIS LinkedIn Activity After Case Closure
An Indian national who holds a United States Green Card has raised significant concerns after discovering that his LinkedIn profile was being viewed by officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This occurred despite his Green Card application being officially approved and closed in January 2024. The individual, who resides in North Carolina, shared his unsettling experience on Reddit, where it quickly garnered attention and sparked widespread discussion among immigrant communities.
Details of the Reddit Post and Immigration Journey
The Redditor described how he first noticed that his LinkedIn profile had been viewed by a case officer, followed by lawyers associated with USCIS. He expressed feeling "freaked out" by this surveillance, especially since his immigration case was no longer active. His journey to obtaining a Green Card began when he arrived in the US in 2015 on an F-1 student visa. He then transitioned to STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training) and was successfully selected in the H-1B visa lottery in 2020.
In 2021, he married an Indian-origin U.S. citizen, and in 2023, he applied for a marriage-based Green Card. The application was approved in January 2024 without an interview, as it qualified for a 10-year unconditional Green Card due to his marriage being over two years old at the time of approval. The individual clarified that he has no criminal record, with only a minor speeding violation from 2023 before his Green Card approval, and he remains married to his wife.
Social Media Reactions and Possible Explanations
The Reddit post ignited a flurry of responses from social media users. Some labeled the incident as "psychological warfare on immigrant communities," highlighting the anxiety and uncertainty it creates. Others offered more benign explanations, suggesting that the LinkedIn views could be due to the Redditor having a common name, leading to routine checks or mistaken identity. Additionally, some analysts pointed out that as a Green Card holder and not yet a U.S. citizen, he remains under the purview of immigration agencies, which may conduct periodic reviews.
Broader Context of US Immigration Policies
This incident comes at a time when the United States has intensified its overall vetting processes for immigrants. Notably, H-1B visa holders in India are experiencing significant delays in stamping procedures, partly attributed to newly implemented social media vetting measures. The administration has also frozen Green Card applications from 75 countries and is reviewing Green Cards issued to individuals from certain designated nations under the Biden administration. These actions indicate a heightened scrutiny of immigration cases, even after approval, which adds to the concerns raised by the Redditor's experience.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges and surveillance faced by immigrants in the US, particularly those from India, as they navigate complex immigration systems. It serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and clarity in immigration procedures to alleviate fears within immigrant communities.
