US asks for residence addresses, biometrics of H-1B candidates first time ever: ‘Extremely uncommon’

USCIS is looking for residence handle and biometrics as extra information from H-1B candidates, if there may be any ‘hostile data’ in regards to the applicant.

In a recent hassle for H-1B candidates, federal immigrant authorities are asking for residence addresses and biometrics for H-1B and employment-based immigrant petitions, which immigrant legal professionals suppose is very uncommon, as biometrics aren’t typically required. Immigrant authorities are issuing Requests for Proof (RFE) for this information.
A Request for Proof is a proper discover issued by the USCIS when extra paperwork are required for evaluating a petition. It cannot be seen as a denial however a normal a part of the method if there may be any hole within the purposes. In response to USCIS tips, an RFE ought to clearly define which eligibility standards haven’t been met, clarify why current supplies are inadequate, and counsel what extra proof may assist meet the necessities.
These requests are fairly frequent if there’s a lacking documentation, inconsistencies in challenge particulars or a scarcity of supporting proof.

Is it concentrating on H-1Bs amid crackdown on immigrants?

Immigration regulation agency Goel & Anderson’s Vic Goel advised Forbes that is extremely uncommon as a result of biometrics aren’t sometimes required for these case varieties.”The RFEs additionally fail to elucidate the character of the hostile data, leaving employers and attorneys at the hours of darkness. It seems that DHS [Department of Homeland Security] could also be utilizing AI instruments to flag people based mostly on undisclosed information, probably from social media or different authorities databases.”
“We’ve encountered probably hostile data associated to the beneficiary. To proceed processing your software or petition, we required an up to date handle for the beneficiary in order that we could gather biometric information,” a USCIS adjudicator wrote in a Request for Proof, in line with Forbes.
The “hostile data” half goes together with the crackdown on immigrants by the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio lately stated making America secure means revoking visas when threats come up. “US visa holders ought to know in no unsure phrases that the US authorities’s rigorous safety vetting doesn’t finish as soon as a visa is granted,” Rubio stated.