Why LinkedIn Consistency Matters for H-1B
Your LinkedIn profile is essentially a public resume. Consular officers and USCIS regularly cross-reference it with your visa petition. Any discrepancies can trigger:
- Requests for Evidence (RFEs)
- Visa denials
- Fraud investigations
The Most Common Inconsistencies
1. Job Title Mismatch
The Problem:
- LinkedIn says: “Senior Software Engineer”
- Visa petition says: “Software Developer”
Why It Matters: Different titles can imply different wage levels. If your LinkedIn title sounds more senior than your petition, it looks like wage fraud.
The Fix: Make your LinkedIn title match your petition exactly, or use a title that clearly maps to the same level.
2. Start Date Discrepancies
The Problem:
- LinkedIn says: Started January 2023
- Visa petition says: Started March 2023
Why It Matters: This could suggest you were working before your visa was approved.
The Fix: Ensure dates match exactly. Use the same format (month/year) on both.
3. Job Description Differences
The Problem: Your LinkedIn describes responsibilities that don’t appear in your Labor Condition Application (LCA).
Why It Matters: The LCA defines what you’re supposed to be doing. Major differences raise questions.
The Fix: Review your LCA and ensure your LinkedIn responsibilities align with it.
The LinkedIn Consistency Checklist
Employment Information
- Current job title matches visa petition exactly
- Company name matches (including Inc., LLC, etc.)
- Start date matches petition
- Job description aligns with LCA duties
- Location matches petition (city, state)
Education
- Degrees match visa petition
- Graduation dates are accurate
- Institution names are correct
Skills & Endorsements
- Skills listed are relevant to your specialty occupation
- No skills that contradict your role (e.g., management skills for a junior position)
Recommendations
- No recommendations mentioning different roles/titles
- Dates in recommendations are consistent
What About Previous Jobs?
Your employment history should also be consistent. USCIS may review your entire work history, especially if you’ve had previous H-1B transfers.
Check that:
- Previous job titles match what was on those petitions
- Employment gaps are explained consistently
- No overlapping full-time positions
Red Flags to Remove
- “Open to work” banner (suggests you’re job hunting, which may contradict your current petition)
- Multiple current positions (unless approved for concurrent employment)
- Freelance/consulting work (could imply unauthorized work)
- Job titles with “Acting” or “Interim” (suggests position instability)
Pro Tips
- Screenshot your petition and compare it line-by-line with LinkedIn
- Update LinkedIn BEFORE filing to ensure consistency from the start
- Keep it simple - don’t oversell yourself on LinkedIn during the visa process
- Review regularly - set a reminder to check consistency every 6 months