00:00The Trump administration is tightening rules for H-1B visas,
00:04which allow foreign professionals to work in the U.S.
00:07A State Department memo says anyone involved in censoring free speech could be denied entry.
00:13Consular officers have been instructed to review the resumes and LinkedIn profiles of applicants
00:18and their family members to flag any work related to content moderation or online controls.
00:23The memo says the policy applies to all visa categories but calls for extra scrutiny of H-1B candidates
00:34who often work in technology or social media companies allegedly involved in the suppressing of free speech.
00:41H-1B visas are used by U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers
00:46and are essential for the tech sector, particularly firms recruiting from India and China.
00:51As part of his broader immigration crackdown, Trump earlier imposed new fees of US$100,000 on H-1B visas in September.
01:01Screening has also been tightened for student visas,
01:04with officers directed to review social media accounts for posts seen as hostile towards the United States.
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