Applicants for a US visa will also be asked for their social media contacts, phone numbers and email addresses. The US State Department confirmed yesterday’s media reports. „The State Department has adapted its application forms for both migrants and non-migrants visas to seek additional information from most applicants, including social media identification,“ the statement said. The measure was already announced in 2017.
The additional information should help to safeguard the identity of the applicant. This would make it even better to ensure that legitimate travelers can enter and national security is guaranteed.
Previously, only applicants had to specify their social media contacts and email accounts that were previously in countries controlled by terrorist organizations. In the future, almost all of the 15 million visa applicants will be affected each year. Most tourists and visitors entering the USA in Europe do not use a visa, but the ESTA program, which does not require a visa for a limited length of stay.
