Those travelling to the US will now have to submit social media, email & phone numbers

Nearly all applicants for US visas will have to submit their social media details under newly adopted rules.

The State Department regulations say people will have to submit social media names and five years' worth of email addresses and phone numbers.

When proposed last year, authorities estimated the proposal would affect 14.7 million people annually.
Certain diplomatic and official visa applicants will be exempt from the stringent new measures.

However, people travelling to the US to work or to study will have to hand over their information.

"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 department reportedly said.

Previously, only applicants who needed additional vetting - such as people who had been to parts of the world controlled by terrorist groups - would need to hand over this data.

But now applicants will have to give up their account names on a list of social media platforms, and also volunteer the details of their accounts on any sites not listed.

Anyone who lies about their social media use could face "serious immigration consequences", according to an official who spoke to The Hill.

The Trump administration first proposed the rules in March 2018.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48486672

Well this will obviously impact tourism but I wonder by how much.

Will this make you think twice about travelling to the US or is this something that doesn’t really bother you?

There is the “visa waiver program” for some countries so I don’t know how or if that will be impacted.

I don't intend to travel to the US for work, study, leisure or for any other reason for a long, long time.

strawberry floating dump of a place.

Oddly done my esta today and social media is optional the email and phone you do have to put in. Last time I did an esta is was very simple this time its been a pain they also want your employment details.

That’s a shitty policy but the only social media account that’s linked to my name is my Facebook account and they won’t find any dirt on there.

Hopefully they’ll never ask for my GRcade details. :dread:

How would they know you are lying if your accounts were private and you aren’t in profile pics?

I’m assuming they won’t be allowed to file reports to isps

The US is a very odd place.
They have the worlds largest military and a crapload of police but the people are scared of everything.
It's why there are so many stories of police being called on people for stupid reasons as they feel everyone is a possible killer.

America is rapidly becoming the place I'd least want to live, strawberry float em (and their law).

I've done a few ESTAs so I guess I've put in a few phone numbers. Don't think I'll bother going till this is revoked although I'm slightly worried that other countries will start implementing similar things.

Still many an incredible landscape worth jumping through a few hoops to experience in-person though.

I’m sure quite a few people will end up taking a few ‘burner phones’ with them instead.

Drumstick wrote:I don't intend to travel to the US for work, study, leisure or for any other reason for a long, long time.

strawberry floating dump of a place.

Same. strawberry float ‘em.

Well just paid for mine and the wifes the main thing i find odd is the employment information everything else you can bypass with a burner email and phone the social media is optional so it seems very much over the top.

I'm going to Florida in September...

Guess I'll just dig out my old Nexus 6P and stick my Sim card in that before I go since from what I gather they're also getting way more aggressive on asking people to unlock phones for them at the border.

Last time I went to America I was livid that they didn’t have toilets between getting off the plane d getting out of immigration. When three large planes land at the same time and there’s 7 processing staff, I nearly ruptured my bladder trying to hold it in. (Also I don’t pee on planes so had actually been holding from Glasgow) They better employ more staff to carry out these checks as I’m sure much suspicious behaviour can be accounted for by how agitated folk get waiting for strawberry floating hours to get to their holiday.

Bunni wrote:Last time I went to America I was livid that they didn’t have toilets between getting off the plane d getting out of immigration. When three large planes land at the same time and there’s 7 processing staff, I nearly ruptured my bladder trying to hold it in. (Also I don’t pee on planes so had actually been holding from Glasgow) They better employ more staff to carry out these checks as I’m sure much suspicious behaviour can be accounted for by how agitated folk get waiting for strawberry floating hours to get to their holiday.

When I went last october I was in a near 2 hour queue at customs to get through because it was my first time on my ESTA. There were toilets in LAX, but I couldn't get out the queue to get to them so I was also somewhat stuck.

KK wrote:Still many an incredible landscape worth jumping through a few hoops to experience in-person though.

I’m sure quite a few people will end up taking a few ‘burner phones’ with them instead.

I just skimmed the article quickly but isn't this just for those going to work or study? I don't think they have the man power to inspect everyone who applies for an ESTA.

strawberry float America. What a gooseberry fool hole.

Corazon de Leon

This will be the new normal soon enough. My prediction is that the UK will have adopted the same policy for visa applicants within the next eighteen months. Which is really very worrying given my wife-to-be will need to renew hers in January.

Bunni wrote:Last time I went to America I was livid that they didn’t have toilets between getting off the plane d getting out of immigration. When three large planes land at the same time and there’s 7 processing staff, I nearly ruptured my bladder trying to hold it in. (Also I don’t pee on planes so had actually been holding from Glasgow) They better employ more staff to carry out these checks as I’m sure much suspicious behaviour can be accounted for by how agitated folk get waiting for strawberry floating hours to get to their holiday.

Where did you fly into? There’s *definitely* a toilet in JFK, I know that much. Also how the strawberry float did you make it to Japan without poisoning yourself if you don’t pee on planes? :slol:

Russia have been asking for social media account information for a few years already.

Zaichik wrote:Russia have been asking for social media account information for a few years already.

Don't Russia also take your DNA?

Rightey wrote:I just skimmed the article quickly but isn't this just for those going to work or study? I don't think they have the man power to inspect everyone who applies for an ESTA.

That's what it looked like to me, perhaps i just missed something.

That said, i've no chance of going there anyways so it's all academic really.

Those travelling to the US will now have to submit social media, email & phone numbers

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