Why american visa applicants will submit social media handles

In 2017, the United States Department of State introduced a new requirement for certain visa applicants to provide their social media handles as part of the visa application process. This requirement applies to individuals who are applying for non-immigrant visas, such as tourist visas, student visas, and work visas, and who are from countries that are designated as "high-risk" or "high-threat" by the Department of State.

The purpose of this requirement is to help the U.S. government better assess the risk posed by visa applicants and to prevent potential security threats. By collecting social media handles, the government can gain a better understanding of an applicant's online activities, connections, and potential affiliations, which can help to identify potential security risks.

The specific social media platforms that are required to be disclosed include:

  1. Facebook
  2. Twitter
  3. Instagram
  4. YouTube
  5. LinkedIn
  6. Reddit
  7. TikTok
  8. Snapchat
  9. WhatsApp
  10. Other social media platforms that are commonly used

Applicants are required to provide the following information for each social media platform:

  1. The name of the platform
  2. The username or handle
  3. The date of account creation
  4. The date of last login

The information collected will be used to assess the applicant's credibility, reliability, and potential security risks. The Department of State has stated that the information will be used to:

  1. Verify the applicant's identity
  2. Assess the applicant's credibility and reliability
  3. Identify potential security risks
  4. Determine whether the applicant poses a threat to national security or public safety

It's worth noting that the social media requirement does not apply to all visa applicants, and the specific requirements may vary depending on the type of visa being applied for and the country of origin. Additionally, the information collected will be subject to the same privacy and data protection laws as other personal information collected by the U.S. government.