US visa applicants to be asked for social media history: State Department

The US government is proposing to collect social media identities from nearly everyone who seeks entry into the United States, according to a State Department filing on Friday

The proposal, if approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), would require most immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to list all social media identities they have used in the past five years, reported Reuters.

The information will be used to vet and identify them, according to the proposals, which would affect about 14.7 million people annually.

The proposals support President Donald Trump’s promise to institute “extreme vetting” of foreigners entering the United states to prevent terrorism.

Previously, under rules instituted last May, consular officials were instructed to collect social media identifiers only when they determined “that such information is required to confirm identity or conduct more rigorous national security vetting,” a State Department official said at the time.


The State Department said then that the tighter vetting would apply only to those “who have been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities.”

The American Civil Liberties Union expressed concern, saying the move would have a “chilling” effect on freedom of speech and association.

“People will now have to wonder if what they say online will be misconstrued or misunderstood by a government official,” Hina Shamsi, director ACLU’s National Security Project, said in a statement.

“We’re also concerned about how the Trump administration defines the vague and over-broad term ‘terrorist activities’ because it is inherently political and can be used to discriminate against immigrants who have done nothing wrong,” she said.

“There is a real risk that social media vetting will unfairly target immigrants and travellers from Muslim-majority countries for discriminatory visa denials, without doing anything to protect national security.”

The new proposal was published in the Federal Register on Friday. The public has 60 days to comment on the revised procedures before the OMB approves or rejects them.


If approved, the measures also will require applicants to submit five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses and their international travel history. They will be asked if they have been deported or removed from any country and whether family members have been involved in terrorist activities, the department said.

The department said it intends not to routinely ask most diplomatic and official visa applicants for the additional information.

source: samaa.tv, 31 march 2018

Posted on: 2018-04-01

Misc. News

Kathmandu University 30th Convocation Ceremony Notice
Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre has published form fill-up notice to participate…
Nepal Engineering Council result of Engineer Licensing Exam 2081 (2024)
The Nepal Engineering Council (NEC) has published result of license engineering…
Nepal Pharmacy Council (NPC) License Examination​ Notice
Nepal Pharmacy Council has issued a notice concerning the 26th licensing examination…
Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC) Licensing Examination Notice
Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC) is an autonomous body established under…
Tribhuvan University Notice on the Equivalency of Foreign Degrees
The Curriculum Development Center (CDC) at Tribhuvan University has issued an important…
Nepal Nursing Council publishes Nursing Licensing Examination Notice
Nepal Nursing Council announced application registration form filling dates for…

Featured News

NEB Application Process for Class 11 and 12 Grade Improvement Exam 2081
National Examination Board (NEB), Examination Control Office (Classes 11 & 12),…
Kathmandu University 30th Convocation Ceremony Notice
Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre has published form fill-up notice to participate…
Tribhuvan University Bachelor Level 1st year Exam Routine
Tribhuvan University's Office of the Controller of Examination, Balkhu, has published…
NEB Grade 11 and 12 Partial and Grade Increment Exam Application Open Notice
National Examination Board (NEB) Examination Control Office, has notice regarding…
TSC Exam Question & Answer for Teaching License Examination
The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) is ultimately responsible for licensing and…
TU publishes results
Tribhuvan University office of the controller of examination, Balkhu has published…

Featured Articles

Lok Sewa Aayog (PSC) Exams Reading Materials 2081 (2024)
Lok Sewa Reading Materials from the year 2081 B.S. that were printed in publications…
Lok Sewa Old Past Exam Questions for Assistant and Officer Level
Collection of Lok Sewa Old / Past question for various Assistant and Officer level…
Nepal Telecom-NTC Lok Sewa Old Exam Question and Answer
Only by practicing authentic Nepal Telecom question papers will you gain a true…
Nepal Electricity Authority-NEA Lok Sewa Old Exam Questions and Answer
Only by practicing authentic NEA question papers will you gain a true understanding…
Officer Cadet Exam Syllabus - Nepal Army
This article delves into the extensive syllabus designed to provide aspiring cadets…
Lok Sewa Vacancy Calendar 2081 2082 ( All Provinces)
Individuals can use the calendar to participate in various public service examinations,…
Would you like to advertise here?
Connect with us