Social media check will soon be required for US visa applications

We previously reported that the U.S. Government requires visa applicants to provide their social media accounts within the last five years. Now, the Trump administration also plans to require would-be immigrants who are applying to go the U.S. to submit five years of social media history.

Image via The New Daily

This move is an extension effort from the Trump administration and is considered as “extreme vetting” to would-be immigrants to the U.S. after the San Bernardino terrorist attack. In some notices submitted by the State Department on Thursday, the U.S. government plans to require nearly all visa applications who are going to U.S. to submit their social media handles that are asked from the government, as well as other platforms not explicitly mentioned in the provided questionnaire.

Apart from that, the U.S. government will also ask for previous telephone numbers, email addresses, previous immigration violations, and any family history of involvement in terrorist activities.

According to the documents, nearly 15 million would-be immigrants will be affected by this move; however there are exemptions for diplomatic and official visas.

This plan will not be implemented immediately as there will be a given 60 days for the public to comment on it.

Source: CNN

Alyza Angeles

Alyza is a Multimedia Producer for YugaTech. You can follow her at @tadboring.

http://www.yugatech.com

2 Comments

haist says:

7 years ago

and yet, shooters are lurking inside their schools.
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GovAssist says:

2 months ago

Shedding light on the upcoming requirement of social media checks for US visa applications. This is a significant change that will impact many applicants, so it’s crucial for travelers to be aware of what this entails. The article does a great job of explaining how this new measure could affect the visa application process, and I appreciate the insight into why the US government is implementing it.

While social media checks may raise concerns about privacy, it’s clear that the authorities are using this as a way to enhance security and verify the background of applicants. It’s important for applicants to be mindful of their online presence, as this requirement emphasizes transparency and honesty in providing information.

The suggestion to carefully review and manage social media accounts before applying is practical advice that can help prevent any misunderstandings or issues during the review process. Overall, this change underscores the importance of maintaining a respectful and responsible online presence.

Thank you for sharing this update—it’s essential for anyone planning to apply for a US visa to be informed about these new requirements so they can be better prepared. I hope this will help many applicants navigate the process with ease and confidence.
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