Recently, the U.S. government announced that it will conduct continuous vetting of approximately 55 million foreign nationals worldwide who hold valid U.S. visas to verify whether visa holders have violated any visa regulations.
Scope and Focus of the Review
This review is massive in scale, covering all visa categories, including tourist, student, and work visas. According to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there were 12.8 million green card holders and 3.6 million short-term visa holders in the United States in 2024.
The review content primarily includes: overstaying, criminal behavior, threats to public safety, and engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to terrorist organizations. U.S. government officials stated that the review will include the social media accounts of all visa holders, as well as law enforcement and immigration records from their countries of origin.
It is worth noting that the review will utilize new tools to collect data, including comprehensive screening of social media content. Even behaviors that are not illegal but are considered inappropriate at a social level (such as frequent traffic violations) may become subjects of the review.
Policy Background and Motivation
This is part of the ongoing tightening of immigration policies since Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. On one hand, it strengthens the deportation of illegal immigrants, and on the other, it increases the scrutiny of holders of legal visas, such as student visas.
The Trump administration has recently adopted several immigration restriction measures. According to multiple U.S. media reports, the U.S. has revoked over 6,000 student visas this year. Meanwhile, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated its policy manual, explicitly stating that immigration officers should consider whether an applicant is involved in anti-American, terrorist, or anti-Semitic ideologies and activities when processing immigration applications.
Analysis of Affected Groups
The impact of this review varies across different groups:
• International students (F-1 visa) are the first to bear the brunt: The number of student visas revoked this year has reached four times that of the same period last year. Among them, approximately 4,000 people were revoked for "illegal activities," and 200 to 300 were cancelled due to suspected terrorism.
• Work visa holders (H-1B, etc.) also face significant risks: There are approximately 1.5 to 2 million work visa holders in the U.S., most of whom are H-1B visa holders. These individuals live in the U.S. long-term, and once any violation is discovered, they may face the prospect of visa revocation and deportation.
• Short-term visa holders (B-category visas): Foreign nationals entering the U.S. for tourism, short-term business, or even visiting relatives on B-category visas may also be included as key subjects of the review due to "frequent entry and exit" or incomplete information.
Response Strategies and Suggestions
Facing this policy environment, visa holders can take the following measures:
• Maintain compliance with status and documentation: Regularly check the visa status of yourself and your family to avoid expiration or ambiguity, and prepare clear documentation.
• Pay attention to social media remarks: Avoid sensitive topics or remarks that are easily misinterpreted, and do not ignore "online behavior," as it has become part of the review.
• Seek professional support: Once you encounter a "notice of review," "inquiry," or even "risk of revocation," you should promptly seek professional assistance to ensure your legal rights and interests.
• Consider more stable status pathways: Such as EB-5 investment immigration (rural projects) or EB-1A extraordinary ability and NIW national interest waiver projects, to plan and lay out long-term legal residence in the United States.
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