People applying for US visas worldwide, will now have to fill a new questionnaire.
Applicants would be asked for their social media handles for the last five years and biographical information going back 15 years.
The new questions are part of President Donald Trump’s efforts, to tighten vetting of would-be visitors to the US. They were approved on May 23 by the Office of Management and Budget.
Consular officials can request all prior passport numbers, five years’ worth of social media information, email addresses and phone numbers.
They can also ask for 15 years of biographical information including addresses, employment and travel history.
However, critics have said the new questions would be tiring and lead to long delays in processing, discouraging international students and scientists from travelling to the States.
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”.
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