June 04, 2019

Anna Murray 

The State Department of US started on May 31 to require applicants of visa to submit their social media information for the past 5 years, which will allow the government to have the access to dates of milestones, photos, and other personal information shared on the social media.

US president Trump asked the secretary of state as well as the secretary of homeland security to carry out the uniform baseline for vetting and screening procedures in March 2017. And requiring visa applicants to submit their social media accounts and information was part of that.

A rule asking for surveying social media use of immigrants, inclusive of naturalized citizens was proposed and enacted by Homeland Security Department. However, visa applicants might view the added requirement as a barrier which would dissuade them from entering the United States. 

Photo:Webshot.