New Delhi, Dec. 4 -- The Trump administration has ordered a sweeping new vetting regime for H-1B visa applicants, directing US consular officers to scrutinise resumes and LinkedIn profiles for signs of involvement in what officials describe as "censorship" of free expression.

The policy shift, first reported by Reuters, marks one of the most significant expansions of immigration screening under the current administration, and could affect thousands of skilled workers seeking employment in the United States.

In an internal cable dated 2 December and circulated to all US missions globally, consular officials were instructed to analyse the online LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants - and even their accompanying family members - for past e...