The U.S. is making the visa obtaining process a bit more complex. Some applicants will now be asked to offer up social media handles as well as biographical info and information about where the money for all of their travels came from.
Providing the information is technically voluntary but refusing to offer it could result in a visa being denied. Some people are opposed to the additional questions since the visa process is already quite intensive.
One of those people is Chris Vest, the Director of Public Policy for the American Society of Association Executives. He released a statement about why he doesn’t think that the process is necessary.
“Individuals from non-Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries already undergo a comprehensive, multi-layered process to obtain a temporary visa to enter the U.S. for tourism or business purposes.They must complete an online application for a visa, and the information they provide is checked against terrorism watch lists and databases. They then appear for an in-person interview with a State Department consular officer who is trained to look for red flags in their application.
“They must show proof that a return ticket has been purchased and that they have a place to stay in the U.S., and answer a series of biographic questions. They have to have their photos and fingerprints taken. All of that information is subject to analysis by State Department officials and cross-checked by Customs and Border Protection when they arrive at a U.S. airport.”
