Reality Check: Now Social Media Posts will decide your U.S Trip

Despite criticism from a range of education officials and academic groups, U.S. government’s Office of Management and Budget has approved the new questionnaire that will require your social media account details dating back over the last five years and biographical information dating back 15 years.

The biographical details include email addresses and phone numbers, addresses, employment and travel history. The new questions are voluntary; the form says failure to provide the information may delay or prevent the processing of an individual visa application.

According to the department, this move is an attempt to tighten vetting of would-be visitors to the country. However, any sane person would disagree with this thesis as the new questionnaire is not only burdensome but would also block the way for potential immigrants, would-be students and qualified researchers and teachers.

Reuters report says that the additional information would only be requested when the department determines that “such information is required to confirm identity or conduct more rigorous national security vetting.”

Though the new question form was approved on May 23, the government had published a notice in the Federal Register on May 5 to receive public comment on the requirement. The notice also mentioned it is “requesting a temporary go-ahead from the White House budget office so the plan can take effect for 180 days, beginning May 18, regardless of those public comments,” as per a report by Times of India.

The Office of Management and Budget granted emergency approval for the new questions for six months, instead of the usual three years.

President Donald Trump has vowed to increase national security and border protections. The travel ban is one of the examples, where he tried to ban people from six Muslim-majority nations to enter the US. Well, that didn’t work out, and only time will reveal what befalls after his latest move.