Brits to be forced to hand over social media details before visiting the US as Trump’s ‘extreme vetting’ comes into force
The US State Department is now requiring nearly all applicants for US visas to submit their social media details.
Handing over personal usernames, previous email addresses and phone numbers is all part of the Trump administration’s enhanced screening of potential immigrants and visitors.
The changes – which have just taken effect after approval of the revised application forms – have been referred to by Trump for years as ‘extreme vetting’.
Updated immigrant and non-immigrant visa forms will now request the additional information, including ‘social media identifiers,’ from almost all applicants, the department said.
The change, which was proposed in March 2018, is expected to affect about 15 million foreigners who apply for visas to enter the United States each year.
The department said: “National security is our top priority when adjudicating visa applications, and every prospective traveller and immigrant to the United States undergoes extensive security screening.
“We are constantly working to find mechanisms to improve our screening processes to protect U. citizens, while supporting legitimate travel to the United States.”
Every prospective traveller and immigrant to the United States undergoes extensive security screening.”
US State Department
Social media, email and phone number histories had only been sought in the past from applicants who were identified for extra scrutiny, such as people who had travelled to areas controlled by terrorist organisations.
An estimated 65,000 applicants per year had fallen into that category.
The department says collecting the additional information from more applicants “will strengthen our process for vetting these applicants and confirming their identity.”
The new rules apply to virtually all applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
When it filed its initial notice to make the change, the department estimated it would affect 710,000 immigrant visa applicants and 14 million non-immigrant visa applicants, including those who want to come to the US for business or education.
What are the new visa requirements?
The new visa application forms list a number of social media platforms and require the applicant to provide any account names they may have had on them over the previous five years.
They also give applicants the option to volunteer information about social media accounts on platforms not listed on the form.
In addition to their social media histories, visa applicants are now asked for five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, international travel and deportation status, as well as whether any family members have been involved in terrorist activities.
Only applicants for certain diplomatic and official visa types are exempted from the requirements.
Trump made cracking down on immigration a key part of his election campaign in 2016.
NEW US VISA APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
The new visa application forms require social media information including:
- Applicant’s social media history and account names they may have had over the previous five years.
- Information about social media accounts on platforms not listed on the form.
- Telephone numbers and email addresses from the past five years.
- International travel and deportation status’ over the past five years.
- Identification of family members who have been involved in terrorist activities.
Only applicants for certain diplomatic and official visa types are exempted from the requirements.
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