The U.S. Department of State, responsible for American consulates worldwide, announced at the beginning of June a new security measure for U.S. visa applications. From now on, all applicants for U.S. visas must provide the consulate with their social media usernames, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, for the past five years. Even if the applicant is not currently using social media and has closed their accounts, they must still provide information on any accounts opened in the last five years.
Failure to disclose information related to these social media accounts, whether intentional or not, can result in a denial and a possible accusation of fraud or material misrepresentation. Therefore, more than ever, applicants must be thorough when filling out their DS-160 (for temporary visas) and DS-260 (for permanent visas) forms. Many people use the services of agents or travel agencies to facilitate the process, but it is common for these entities not to verify all relevant data accurately. Hence, it is crucial for visa applicants to review and actively participate in completing their forms to avoid errors or omissions.
This new procedure stems from President Trump’s “extreme vetting” policy, which aims to scrutinize and investigate in detail every individual interested in entering the United States. As everyone knows, social media reveals many data points that can be relevant to visa applications: marital status, employment, etc. It also reveals hobbies, personal interests, political stance, and future plans. For example, the consulate might find it revealing if a tourist visa applicant has posted on their Facebook page about permanently moving to the United States—messages from friends saying goodbye, getting rid of furniture and cars, etc. Also revealing would be romantic photos with someone other than the spouse listed in a family application. In short, social media photos and posts can uncover a reality very different from what appears in the visa application. And consular officers now have free rein to investigate.
The extent of the authority granted to government agencies to “look” at closed accounts or deleted information is still unknown. It is known that this capability exists. Therefore, more than ever, social media posts should be made with the potential scrutiny by U.S. immigration authorities in mind. Remember that immigration authorities at airports and ports already have authorization to view and read the content of social media, emails, and messages on the cell phones of people entering the United States. These new procedures have already generated significant controversy, especially among free speech advocates, who argue that this type of questioning stifles free expression.
With the arrival of the July vacation season, the demand for U.S. visas increases, particularly tourist visas.
