America’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposed the ideas for anyone who is planning to visit the country, whether they require a visa or not — including an ESTA (electronic travel authorisation) where people can visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
The notice, which has not been finalised, would see foreign tourists being required to provide their social media usernames from the last five years, being "mandatory" to hand over the information.
Other details the CBP have proposed include email addresses, telephone numbers used in the last five years, as well as the names, addresses, phone numbers and birthdays of family members.
The current ESTA application process will see Irish tourists provide an email address, home address, phone number and emergency contact details, with the ESTA lasting for two years if approved.
They have also proposed that requirements would include a selfie of the applicant as well as biometrics — including face, fingerprints and iris scans — which are only required upon arrival in the US. The proposals will remain open for 60 days for consultation; however, and are not legislation yet.
The Trump administration has been cracking down on social media posts in a move that has been divisive since Donald Trump returned to power back in January, with those applying for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas needing to list their social media accounts from earlier this year.
Read more
The US Embassy in Dublin said back in June that people filling out the DS-160 visa application would need to keep their privacy settings on public, adding at the time that ‘any social media information not provided could result in visa denial as well as "ineligibility for future visas."
The US Embassy said that obtaining a visa for the States was a "privilege, not a right" as they highlighted every decision was one made by national security.
In the statement, they revealed they would be starting back scheduling for non-immigrant visa applications, adding the US had to be "vigilant" during the visa process to ensure those applying for admission did not intend to "harm Americans and our national interests."
It added that "all applicants [must] credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission."
They said: "The US Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and pubic safety through our visa process."
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Comments