8 months ago
US Expands Social Media Vetting for Visa Applicants
The US government wants visitors from certain countries and H-1B visa applicants to share their social media history and other personal information when applying for travel waivers or visas.
Right now, people from 42 countries, like Britain and Australia, can visit the US without a visa by filling out a form called ESTA.
The new rule would make it necessary for them to provide their social media posts from the last five years, along with other details like phone numbers and family information.
The public can give their opinions on this proposal for 60 days.
This is part of stricter rules being put in place by the Trump administration to control who enters the country.
Additionally, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will face social media screening, leading to interview cancellations and delays.
Some people are worried about privacy, while the government says it's important for security.
The US plans to make social media history disclosure mandatory for visa-exempt tourists from 42 countries and H-1B, H-4 visa applicants.
The proposal is part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application process and enhanced vetting for visas.
Applicants would need to provide social media history from the last five years, phone numbers, email addresses, family member details, and biometric information.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal, and H-1B, H-4 visa applicants face interview cancellations and delays up to March 2026.
This move is part of the Trump administration's broader crackdown on migration, citing national security as a key reason, but raises privacy concerns.
- Who
- Visa-exempt tourists from 42 countries, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants
- What
- Proposed mandatory disclosure of social media history and other personal data for ESTA and visa applications
- Where
- United States
- When
- Proposal published in the Federal Register on Tuesday; enhanced vetting for H-1B and H-4 applicants starts December 15
- Why
- Part of a broader crackdown on migration by the Trump administration, citing national security as a key reason
Key facts
- Affected Countries
- 42 countries, including Britain, France, Australia, and Japan
- Current Requirement
- Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) waiver
- Proposed New Requirements
- Social media history (last 5 years), phone numbers (last 5 years), email addresses (last 10 years), family member details, biometric information
- Public Comment Period
- 60 days
- Administration
- Trump administration
- Executive Order
- Executive Order 14161 (Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats)
- ESTA Fee
- $40
- ESTA Validity
- Two years, allowing multiple entries
- Enhanced Vetting
- Social media screening for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants
- Impact on H-1B
- Interview cancellations and delays up to March 2026
- Privacy Concerns
- Applicants must set social media accounts to public mode
Timeline
US scraps 85K visas, 8K student visas, citing security fears.
Crackdown follows visa overstays, social media monitoring.
Visa revocations trigger new social media disclosure rule.
Now, tourists must reveal 5-year social media history.
US to enforce rule for visa-exempt travelers.
Quotes
Travel.state.gov
Official website of the US Department of State
“As of December 15, the Department will expand the requirement that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents, in addition to the students and exchange visitors already subject to this review. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to public.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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