The Trump administration is planning a new rule that would make foreign visitors share their social media history from the past five years before entering the United States. This plan was published in the Federal Register and is part of stricter security checks.
US Customs and Border Protection says social media details will now be required for people entering the US under the Visa Waiver Program. About 40 countries are part of this program, and visitors from these nations can stay in the US for up to 90 days without a regular visa.
The government also wants visitors to provide their phone numbers, email addresses from the past five years, and the names and addresses of their family members.
This rule does not apply to Indian travelers under the Visa Waiver Program because India is not part of it. However, the US already requires social media details for many other visas that Indians apply for, such as tourist visas. The US Embassy in India has said that giving incorrect or incomplete social media information can lead to a visa denial.
Over the past year, the US has increased digital checks across many visa types. Student visa applicants must make their social media profiles public, and H-1B applicants now face an “online presence review.” Because of this, H-1B visa interviews in India were postponed, creating confusion for many applicants.
The stricter rules could even affect sports fans who want to visit the US for events such as the FIFA World Cup next year or the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The proposal is open for public comments for 60 days. Meanwhile, many travelers worry that even a simple family visit to the US will become more difficult under these new requirements.
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