US extends its social media checks

BANGKOK Social media is now the latest tool to vet travellers applying for a visa to visit the US.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a notice, last week, confirming the Department of Homeland Security would extend its social-media vetting to include for the first time Chinese visitors.

Chinese US visa applicants will be asked to provide the names of their social-media accounts in their visa application.

Similar social media vetting has been carried out as part of the US Visa Waiver Programme, since 2016 under the Barack Obama administration.

The social media checks are carried out on citizens from Australia and Japan, as well as European Union countries including the UK.

The question on social media accounts is flagged as optional information, but travellers invariably provide details believing an omission could result in a negative interpretation during the application process.

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