Anyone travelling to America will need to submit their social media accounts before entering

[OnDoutside]

I'm shocked this isn't a big international story

They'll also need to give current and previous email addresses and phone numbers. It was revealed on Thursday that the State Department in the U.S. would be seeking all visa applicants to the country to submit their social media accounts along with their visa applications. Along with this, they will also be required to submit all of their email addresses and phone numbers for the last five years.

According to the New York Times, these new additions to the visa applications will be published in Friday's Federal Register and the State Department has said it wants the public to comment on the proposed new requirements. Previously, these requirements were only asked of specific applicants who were placed under additional scrutiny, such as those who have travelled to areas that are controlled by terrorist organisations.

This usually involved around 65,000 people per year, but with the new expansion of the additions, that number will go up to approximately 15 million people every year. If the new documents are approved, then all visa applicants will need to present a list of their social media platforms - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. - and provide the account names for each of those, as well as any previous accounts they may have had in the last five years.

https://www.joe.ie/news/america-visa-social-media-620827

[Hortensis]

1. Give it time. This IS huge but newly proposed, not enacted.

[Rollo]

9. Yes, but I can see other nations, even allies, retaliating by requiring similar info from Americans.

who wish to travel on tourist visas etc...

Back in a happier time, the brightest minds in our government spent some time and energy trying to figure out how to make America less hated, not more hated.

Those were the days.

[Hortensis]

21. Yes, it's an invasion of privacy, and I don't like it either.

Call your congressman BEFORE it becomes law.

But I was suggesting the OP not complain about hearing about it by one medium and leaping to the assumption that it's not reported everywhere because the others don't care. Good media gather facts first, confirm facts and subject to editorial scrutiny, then publish. World-class media are most often the first to break stories, but if they're not they'll always at least a day or two behind those who do.

[hlthe2b]

2. So if you actually don't USE social media and don't have accounts and tell them that...

What are they going to do then?

I honestly DON'T... What the hell are they going to do with all prior email addresses and phone numbers?

[IluvPitties]

4. Good question.

[OnDoutside]

5. A lot of countries rolled over after 2001 in sharing data with the US, so it will be interesting to

see what happens now, with a Trump white house.

[former9thward]

10. They run the phone numbers and emails against a database

of emails and phone numbers known terrorists have communicated with.

[FakeNoose]

13. Then you can't possibly be a terrorist

I'm not on Facebook and I don't have a smartphone. I do have an email address but it will tell them nothing.
They'll know I'm old, and not a terrorist.

[hlthe2b]

14. Unless some young whippersnapper agent refuses to believe that ANYONE does not have

social media accounts... Then I guess we are like Tom Hanks and stuck living in the airport terminal forever...

[FakeNoose]

16. I'll bet this is Zuckerberg's idea

He's tired of seeing everyone quit his Facebook all of a sudden.

[forgotmylogin]

3. "O'er the laaaa-hand OF THE FREEEEEEEEE--!"

"And the hooooooome...of Dah--nuuuuuullllld....Truhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmp."

[msongs]

6. US gestapo makes facebook look like amateurs nt

[mountain grammy]

7. All visas? Tourist visas? Wow.

shutting us out.

[IluvPitties]

8. Nativism at work.

[Tatiana]

11. Lets see what the Universities and Tourism industry have to say.

I can't believe they will accept this without a fight.

[sdfernando]

12. Way to tank tourism $$$

Real geniuses these cats are!

I'd advise against visiting the US. Plenty of other great places to vacation without the invasion of privacy.

[HipChick]

15. How are they going to validate email address and phones numbers?..

I've got a ton old email address and old phone number...for the life of me cannot remember the new ones..

[jberryhill]

17. Its just to make sure they dont have any compromising pictures of Trump

[Crunchy Frog]

18. This will do alot for the tourist industry.

What if you don't even remember all your past email addresses, phone numbers, or social media accounts?

I've got email addresses that I can't remember.

[Ms. Toad]

19. Your headline is inaccurate.

I know you got it from the article, but only individuals who require a visa to enter the country will need to submit their social media accounts.

There are 38 countries whose citizens do not require visas for short-term stays: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Chile.

Canadian, Bermuda, Marshall Islands, Palau, and Micronesia are exempt from visas entirely

I have't been able to find statistics, but I'd guess a substantial number of our tourists come from these countries.

That is not to suggest this shouldn't be international news. It is horrendous, and should be challenged. But describing it as applying to "anyone traveling to America," is not even close to accurate.

[malaise]

20. It is here in Jamaica

and all over the Caribbean

[dembotoz]

22. lots of people who travel to foreign lands use burner phones

for this reason
this is not as rare as you think
best friend who uses her company phone left it at home when she traveled to russia...she had problems at a checkpoint because the authorities would not believe an american would travel with no phone.

[sl8]

23. Federal Register - 60 day notice, request for public comment

From https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/03/30/2018-06490/60-day-notice-of-proposed-information-collection-application-for-immigrant-visa-and-alien

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
A Notice by the State Department on 03/30/2018

This document has a comment period that ends in 59 days. (05/29/2018)

ACTION:
Notice of request for public comment.

SUMMARY:
The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES:
The Department will accept comments from the public up to May 29, 2018.

ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

Web: Persons with access to the internet may comment on this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the document by entering “Docket Number: DOS-2018-0003” in the Search field. Then click the “Comment Now” button and complete the comment form.
Email: [e-mail].
You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Information Collection: Electronic Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration.
OMB Control Number: 1405-0185.
Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.
Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa Office (CA/VO/L/R).
Form Number: DS-260.
Respondents: Immigrant Visa Applicants.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 710,000.
Estimated Number of Responses: 710,000.
Average Time per Response: 155 minutes.
Total Estimated Burden Time: 1,834,167 Annual Hours.
Frequency: Once per application.
Obligation To Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:

Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.
Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your personal information, will be available for public review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection
The Electronic Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (DS-260) is used to collect biographical information from individuals seeking an immigrant visa. The consular officer uses the information collected to elicit information necessary to determine an applicant's eligibility for a visa.

Methodology
The DS-260 will be submitted electronically over an encrypted connection to the Department via the internet. The applicant will be instructed to print a confirmation page containing a bar coded record locator, which will be scanned at the time of processing.

Additional Information
The Department is revising the collection to add several additional questions for immigrant visa applicants. One question lists multiple social media platforms and requires the applicant to provide any identifiers used by applicants for those platforms during the five years preceding the date of application. The platforms listed may be updated by the Department by adding or removing platforms. Additional platforms will be added only if collection is consistent with the uses described in the Supporting Statement and after Office of Management and Budget approval. In addition, the applicant will be given the option to provide information about any social media identifiers associated with any platforms other than those that are listed that the applicant has used in the last five years. The Department will collect this information for identity resolution and vetting purposes based on statutory visa eligibility standards. Other questions seek five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, and international travel; all prior immigration violations; and whether specified family members have been involved in terrorist activities. The “Sign and Submit” statement will provide applicants information related to correcting records within Federal Bureau of Investigation databases and additional information regarding the immigrant visa medical examination. Applicants from countries where female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is prevalent will be provided a link in the DS-260 to an electronic pamphlet that covers the illegality of the practice in the United States. Further, applicants will be required to check a box verifying Start Printed Page 13807that the link was provided to them. Finally, the revised visa application forms will include additional information regarding the visa medical examination that some applicants may be required to undergo. Additional details of the changes are available in supporting documents.

Carl C. Risch,

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2018-06490 Filed 3-29-18; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710-06-P

[Lee-Lee]

24. This is actually probably long overdue

Note first this doesn’t apply to all countries. Many countries don’t require approval for visas for short term visits and some countries don’t require visas at all.

For anyone coming from countries where Visas are required to get a Visa you have to be interviewed by a consular officer who does a background check on you and determines your reasons for requesting a Visa are legitimate, that you are who you say you are, that you are not a risk to the country, and that you are not requesting the visa under false pretenses (like requesting a tourist visa with intention to work).

Not looking at social media and online activity as part of that background check is stupid. In this day and age it’s a huge source of detail on a person you are seeking to validate as who they claim to be.