Travelers from more than 30 nations heading to the United States could soon be asked to produce a five‑year history of their social‑media activity for review before they’re allowed entry.
A proposal submitted on Tuesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires anyone applying for an electronic travel authorization—commonly known as ESTA—to undergo a social‑media check. ESTA lets passport holders from 42 countries stay in the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa.
The new rules are slated to take effect early next year, just months before the thousands of visitors expected to come for the World Cup.
Today, applicants from visa‑waiver countries must submit a home address, phone number, email, an emergency contact, and a $40 fee.
If the amendments pass, applicants will also need to provide every personal and business phone number they’ve used over the past five years, all email addresses—personal and corporate—used in the last decade, and detailed information on immediate family members, including names, birth dates, birthplaces and addresses.
Participating countries in the visa‑waiver program currently include Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
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