DOHA: The US State Department is now requiring nearly all applicants for US visas to submit their social media usernames, previous email addresses and phone numbers, the Associated Press has reported.
The move has just taken effect after approval of the revised application forms and is expected to affect about 15 million foreigners who apply for visas to enter the United States each year.
The new rule is a major step in the Trump administration’s enhanced screening of potential immigrants and visitors.
The new rules require the applicant to provide any account names they may have had on them over the previous five years. 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.
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’d travelled to areas controlled by terrorist organisations. An estimated 65,000 applicants per year had fallen into that category, the AP reported.
The change was proposed in March 2018. The American Civil Liberties Union has opposed the new rule, arguing the questions would create “an environment ripe for profiling and discrimination.”
“National security is our top priority when adjudicating visa applications, and every prospective traveller and immigrant to the United States undergoes extensive security screening,” the State Department said. “We are constantly working to find mechanisms to improve our screening processes to protect US citizens, while supporting legitimate travel to the United States.”
The new rules apply to virtually all applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas. It is estimated that 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.
Only applicants for certain diplomatic and official visa types are exempted from the requirements.