Hey guys, in this video, we're gonna talk about social media
and whether or not immigration checks social media. And if they check it, what in the world
are they looking for? I'm Latoya McBean POY. I'm an immigration lawyer working, uh, virtually with
clients all over the world on complex family business and removal matters. Reach out to us
at McBean law to request an appointment or a consultation with us. You can call us or text
(516) 866-3900 or go visit McBean law.com. Social media is a part of our lives. There's
no get in away from it. And so many, many, many, many, many people are on social media.
And now the big thing is, well, what am am I being watched by immigration authorities,
as I'm going through maybe the visa process to come to the United States or
the adjustment of status process green card process here in the United States
are folks looking at my profile or my pages to see what's going on.
What am, what am I posting? And to learn more about me? The short answer is
yes. Firstly, if you're trying to get an immigrant visa to come to the United States
on the DS two 60 visa application form, there are questions on that form about social media. Okay.
And if you are on social media, what is your handle? Or what are your handles? What are,
you know, how can they find you? In other words, they've added those questions in recent years
to provide more background check on individuals who are going through the immigrant visa process.
Secondly, if you're here in the United States and you're going through a green card process,
the green card application, the form I 4 85 and even the I one 30 petition, which is the family
petition, the underlying petition. Those two forms do not ask for social media information
or data. It, they, they just don't. However, it doesn't mean that the adjudicated
officer is not poking around on your Facebook or Instagram pages, or maybe even TikTok to
find out what are you posting? Who are you with? Uh, what are you talking about? Where are you?
Right? Because for example, friends, and I've seen this happen, I've seen this happen,
uh, to people who come to us, um, who need help because immigration had already poked around on
their social media pages to find out information about them. And so here's how it works. So let's
say for example, on your green card application, you indicate that you're, um, live in Omaha,
Nebraska with your spouse, a at such and such address yet on Facebook. It seems like
you are always in Florida, right? For the past few months or so it looks like you're reside in
There. You're just there, or you're working there. You may post something on Facebook related to
working, um, at some job in Florida or your living situation or people you're with there
in Florida. And it's clear from looking at your history on Facebook or Instagram, that you're in
Florida for a significant amount of time, right? You're not just passing through or visiting.
So you get to your green card interview and the officer can scrutinize and ask you questions about
you, where are you really living? Where are you really living? Okay. It's so that's one way that
it can get people in trouble. The other way that I've seen it get folks in trouble is if you know,
you're, it's a marriage petition process. And yet on your social media, you are lovey dovey. So to
speak with someone else, okay, you post a photo with someone else in a very romantic context.
So that's another way that it really, um, uh, interferes with the process and
causes a credibility problem for the individual. Although the green card application and the
I, one 30 form does not ask for social media data or information. It doesn't mean that
the adjudicated officer is not investigated and trying to figure out are they being truthful
on this application, check your privacy settings on social media, check those settings to make sure
that, you know, no one else can get into your account, um, protect your account, of course,
but also make sure that it's set for only like your friends or family, whoever you have in your
circle. The government cannot penetrate that unless it has a warrant that it presents to
Facebook, um, showing reason why they need to get into your account and get more data from
your account, protect your, you, you know, who can get into and see your stuff on social media.
And then guys remember, you know, if you're going through an immigration process, obviously you want
to be very cautious about things, right? Yes. Be cautious and not post yourself and compromising,
um, situations, uh, that are contradicting what you have put on your immigration application
forms. Be careful about that. And then secondly, obviously be just, you know, transparent, uh,
and, uh, during the green card process as well, and not, uh, misrepresent the facts about your
situation. If you have some complicated things going on that you think could interfere with your
green card process, work with a professional on, um, resolving those matters or how to respond to
the government about those issues. Nine out Of 10 people who come to us at McBean law, they
have something complicated going on. Okay. And we work to resolve those issues with the government.
So just know that you're not alone out there. If you're in a scenario where whereby your marriage
has broken down and you're going through the green card process or the immigrant visa process,
for some people, there are things that can be done to help them for others. No,
there's nothing that can be done in a certain situation. Nevertheless,
protect your privacy, um, check your privacy settings on all of your social media. Try not to
post, um, ridiculously compromising photos, um, or posts that just completely breaks down your case.
And guys work with a professional. If you have complex things going on that you need to explain
to the government, I hope you found this short video, helpful comment below. Let me know your
thoughts on it. Be sure to share this with other people and guys, before you go subscribe to my
channel, hit the notification bell, and I will see you in the next one. Bye. Bye.