USCIS has issued a 60-day notice about a new proposal to collect social media identifiers (“handles”) and the names of platforms from applicants. The goal is to help with identity verification, national security, public safety screenings, and other related inspections. Comments on this proposal are due by 5/5/25.

The Federal Register comment period is a way for the public to give feedback on proposed rules and regulations. When an agency like USCIS wants to create or change a rule, it publishes a notice in the Federal Register that explains the proposal. After that, there’s usually a 30-60 day window for the public to submit comments. Once the comment period ends, the agency looks at all the feedback and can adjust the proposal before finalizing it. The final rule is then published, sometimes with changes based on public input. This gives everyone a chance to have a say in how federal rules are made.

In a couple of months, USCIS will decide whether applicants will need to include their social media handles in their applications.