Overview

• USCIS has begun issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for H-1B and employment-based green card petitions, demanding residential addresses and biometric data.
• The agency references 'potentially adverse information' about applicants but has not clarified the nature of this information or announced any procedural changes.
• Immigration attorneys advise petitioners to withhold biometric data and instead request disclosure of the alleged adverse information under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(16)(i).
• Speculation has emerged that DHS may be leveraging AI tools or undisclosed databases, including social media, to flag visa applicants.
• Employers and universities express alarm over the potential impact on attracting and retaining global talent, especially as international student visa enforcement intensifies.