The Trump administration has rolled out a new questionnaire for U.S. visa applicants worldwide that asks for social media handles for the last five years and biographical information going back 15 years.
The new questions, part of an effort to tighten vetting of would-be visitors to the United States, was approved on May 23 by the Office of Management and Budget despite criticism from a range of education officials and academic groups during a public comment period.
Critics argued that the new questions would be overly burdensome, lead to long delays in processing and discourage international students and scientists from coming to the United States.
Under the new procedures, consular officials can request all prior passport numbers, five years' worth of social media handles, email addresses and phone numbers and 15 years of biographical information including addresses, employment and travel history.
Officials will request the additional information when they determine "that such information is required to confirm identity or conduct more rigorous national security vetting," a State Department official said on Wednesday.
The State Department said earlier the tighter vetting would apply to visa applicants "who have been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities."
(Score: 2, Funny) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday June 03 2017, @07:59PM (1 child)
Folks, I promised to enact extreme vetting for immigrants and refugees. We gonna vet so much you may even get tired of vetting and you'll say please, please Mr. President, it's too much vetting! We can't take it anymore! I'm kidding. I wasn't kidding. Word to the wise, follow me. Also, follow @IvankaTrump and buy her shoes. You'll look fabulous in them. Donate to her fund big time. Wear her clothes and anything L.L. Bean sells. They're terrific and you'll look fabulous. When you get vetted you'll look great. Catch my drift. Boycott SNL and everyone in it, they're pigs. Totally biased, unwatchable. Also Kathy Griffin. She's disgusting! You know what to do to her when we let you in. If you're from Syria you know. Or, if you're not. Just do it. And Mike Dubke, you're still fired! U.S.A.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 03 2017, @08:17PM
Wow, clearly Saturday Night Live doesn't know what they're missing when they passed on you.