US Visa Application Now Requires Submission of Social Media Accounts
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Travelers who are planning a trip to the United States and need to complete the online nonimmigrant visa application to enter the country will find a new section on the DS-160 form. As of Friday, an updated version of the form now requires applicants to include all of their social media accounts.
The form allows for applicants to add multiple accounts from multiple social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and Youtube. For the select group of you still hanging out with Tom over on MySpace, the US government wants to know about that too.
Applicants who don’t fully disclose their social media accounts could “face serious immigration issues” a US Department of State official told The Hill.
The move is related to the current administration’s promise from 2017 to put “extreme vetting” into place for those who wish to enter the United States, and the new policy was first proposed back in March of 2018.
The state department official told the Hill that, “As we’ve seen around the world in recent years, social media can be a major forum for terrorist sentiment and activity. This will be a vital tool to screen out terrorists, public safety threats, and other dangerous individuals from gaining immigration benefits and setting foot on U.S. soil.”
According to the AP, nearly 15 million people per year will be affected by the new requirements. For now, tourists from the 38 countries covered by the Visa Waiver Program have the option of listing but are not required to list social media accounts on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.
For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter.
Featured photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
WELCOME OFFER: 60,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,200
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Earn 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2022. That’s 3X points in addition to the 2X points you already earn on travel.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.