Immigration attorneys in the U.S. are raising alarms over a new trend by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which has begun requesting home addresses and biometric data from H-1B visa applicants — an unusual move that marks a shift from standard procedure.
This development comes amid increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration and is affecting international students at over 240 colleges and universities nationwide.
USCIS is now issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) in H-1B cases that demand personal information, including home addresses and biometrics, prompting confusion and concern.
Immigration attorney Vic Goel of Goel & Anderson told Forbes, “This is highly unusual because biometrics are not typically required for these case types.”
The RFEs often lack clear justification for such requests, leaving foreign employers and attorneys uncertain about how to respond. Goel recommends citing 8 CFR 103.2(b)(16)(i), which obliges USCIS to disclose any unusual information used in its decision-making process.
The agency's unexplained shift in protocol is raising broader questions about intent and the potential impact on international students and skilled foreign workers.
