Extreme vetting measures called for by President Trump
In a widening of the reach of its previous screening of potential immigrants and visitors, the State Department is now requiring nearly all applicants for US visas to submit their social media usernames, previous email addresses and phone numbers. This so-called ‘extreme vetting’ procedure was initially proposed in March 2018 but has only recently taken effect with the approval and publication of revised application forms for immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
These forms now include a request for additional information including ‘social media identifiers’ and list a number of social media platforms and require the applicant to provide any account names they may have had on them over the previous five years. Visa applicants are also asked for five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, their international travel and deportation status, as well as whether any family members have been involved in terrorist activities.
Given the fast-paced changes that occur in the social media environment, the forms also give applicants the option to volunteer information about social media accounts on platforms not listed.
Previously, social media handles, email and phone number histories had only been sought from applicants who were identified for extra scrutiny. An estimated 65,000 applicants per year had fallen into that category. The change is expected to affect about 15 million foreigners who apply for visas to enter the United States each year.
The State Department regards the request as another mechanism to improve the screening processes to protect US citizens, while supporting legitimate travel to the United States and will strengthen the process for vetting these applicants and confirming their identity.
