File Photo: New York Yemeni Americans demonstrate in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban and recent denials of visa applications in Foley Square in lower Manhattan in New York City, New York, U.S., Dec. 27, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)
WASHINGTON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said Thursday it plans to require foreigners seeking visas to enter the United States to submit their social media histories.
Applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas, under the proposal, would be required to provide "identifiers" they have used on various social media platforms in the previous five years, in addition to old email addresses and phone numbers.
In this file photo taken on March 21, 2018, social network applications including Facebook, Instagram, Slack, Snapchat, Twitter, Skype, Viber, Teamsnap and Messenger, are on display on a smartphone in Washington D.C. (Xinhua/AFP)
According to documents to be published in the Federal Register, the State Department said it is seeking public comment on the proposed measures within the next 60 days.
Previously, social media, email and phone number histories were only required from applicants singled out for extra scrutiny. An estimated 65,000 people a year fall into that category.
The changes would impact virtually all applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas. The department estimated that 710,000 immigrant visa applicants and 14 million non-immigrant visa applicants would be affected.
International travelers (reflected in a closed door) arrive on the day that U.S. President Donald Trump's limited travel ban, approved by the U.S. Supreme Court, goes into effect, at Logan Airportin Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 29, 2017. (Xinhua/REUTERS)
Only applicants for certain diplomatic and official visa types may be exempted from the requirements, the documents said.
The changes will need to be approved by the Office of Management and Budget at the White House. It marks the latest example of the Trump administration's enhanced vetting procedures for international travelers.
