When USCIS re‑reviews asylum applications and immigration benefit requests from nationals of high‑risk countries (or broadly in discretionary adjudications), it may undertake a number of new or expanded vetting steps:

Biographic / identity verification and history checks
USCIS can demand deeper scrutiny into an applicant’s background — potentially re‑validating the identity, travel history, names (including aliases), prior immigration history, and consistency of claimed facts.

Asylum applicants – visits to the home country may cause a denial.

Social media / online presence screening
Under the new policies, applicants may be asked to disclose their social media identifiers (usernames / handles) for a relevant recent period. Even without disclosure, USCIS officers may review publicly available content such as posts, comments, photos, group memberships, affiliations, travel check‑ins, and other digital footprints. What officers look for includes:

Signs of misrepresentation or fraud (e.g. contradictions between what’s on social media and what’s on application forms).
Indicators of security or public‑safety risk: posts praising violence, extremist content, membership in or association with terrorist or extremist organizations, hate speech, or other concerning affiliations.
Evidence inconsistent with claimed status, history, or intent (for example, unreported travel or affiliations; or statements undermining claimed asylum grounds).
For discretionary benefit requests: evidence of ideologies, statements, or affiliations that may be viewed as “anti‑American,” extremist, or otherwise negative

3. Re‑interviews or new interviews
For those whose cases are being re‑reviewed, USCIS may call applicants back for additional interviews — potentially more detailed than initial ones — to reassess credibility, verify information, and address any red flags from background or social media review.

4. Additional security and national‑security vetting
Given that the new pause and review targets individuals from “high‑risk” countries, USCIS may subject their cases to broader security screening than usual — weighing country‑of-origin risk factors, history, and other background data more heavily.

5. Discretionary denial based on “country‑specific concerns” or ideological/behavioral factors
According to the recent USCIS guidance, for discretionary benefit requests, USCIS may treat “relevant country‑specific facts and circumstances” — for instance, where vetting or screening information is insufficient for assurance — as a negative factor. They may also consider online expression or affiliation with extremist or anti‑American/anti‑Semitic ideology a strong negative factor, which could result in denial.

⚠️ What USCIS Is Specifically Looking For on Social Media & Background Checks

Some of the key red‑flags and risk‑indicators USCIS may scrutinize include:

Public posts, statements, or associations praising or endorsing violence, terrorism, extremist or hate‑based ideologies, or organizations.
Evidence of connections to or support for terrorist or extremist organizations.
Misrepresentation of identity, employment history, travel, marital status, or other facts — especially if contradicted by what’s publicly posted.
Discrepancies between application information and social media history (e.g. unreported prior residence, travel, or activity).
Public content that suggests “anti‑American” sentiment or support for ideologies at odds with U.S. national security or public‑safety interests.
Signs of fraud: e.g. conflicting narratives or fabricated relationships, false employment or education claims, or other misrepresentations.
Unreported affiliations, group memberships, or past activity that may raise eligibility concerns.

🎯 What This Means for Asylum Seekers & Applicants from High‑Risk Countries

Even if an asylum application is based purely on fear of persecution or danger at home, USCIS may still pause adjudication indefinitely while undertaking this broader review and vetting.
Applicants may receive requests for additional evidence, be required to submit social media handles, face deeper scrutiny of past history, and possibly undergo re-interviews.
For cases where discretion is involved — adjustment of status, asylum, other forms of relief — these background checks, social‑media screening, and “country‑specific risk” considerations may weigh heavily against approval.
Even after initial grants (for green cards, asylum, status adjustments), individuals may be subject to review/re‑review, additional vetting, or even revocation under enhanced security policies.

At Shepelsky Law Group, we understand how concerning and frustrating these delays can be, especially for families and individuals waiting for relief. If you or a loved one are affected by this immigration pause and need legal assistance to navigate the process, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Our phone number is: (718)769-6352.

To schedule a consultation, click here: https://shepelskylaw.cliogrow.com/book