But consular officers have been directed not to create shadow profiles or to attempt to “friend” visa applicants to obtain information. employer on a LinkedIn profile may find the visa application delayed while an investigation ensues to ascertain whether he has worked without authorization. For example, a foreign job applicant who prematurely lists a future U.S. Social media may help distinguish individuals of additional concern from those individuals whose information substantiates their eligibility for travel.”įor some time, consular officers have used the option of “googling” a visa applicant on an ad hoc basis to assess consistency between discoverable facts and those set forth in the application. It may also be used to identify potential deception or fraud. For example, social media may be used to support or corroborate a traveler's application information, which will help facilitate legitimate travel by providing an additional means to adjudicate issues related to relevant questions about identity, occupation, previous travel, and other factors.
In addition to using the information for identity verification, the Department of State indicates it will use the information collected for “vetting purposes based on statutory visa eligibility standards.”Ĭustoms and Border Protection (CBP), which administers ESTA, indicates that “Information found in social media will enhance the vetting process and may be used to review ESTA applications to validate legitimate travel, adjudicate VWP ineligibility waivers, and identify potential threats. How Will the Government Use the Information? That sole factor should not be a basis for a visa denial.
Because there is an open-text field for the social media handle information, conceivably, applicants legitimately could answer “unknown” or “I do not recall.” An applicant who is not tech-savvy might be forgiven for failing to remember the Facebook username created perhaps more than a decade ago and for not knowing how to find it. A material misrepresentation of any type on a visa application may result in denial and potentially a finding of fraud. There is an option of answering “none.” But an applicant who answers “none” undoubtedly will be scrutinized at the visa interview, and the consular officer very likely will have independently searched for an online presence of the applicant and may challenge whether the answer was accurate. If the question is left unanswered, the system does not permit the applicant to proceed on the form. Can an Applicant Avoid Providing Information? The instructions direct not to provide passwords. The State Department guidance directs visa applicants to provide information associated with all online providers/platforms, applications and websites used to collaborate, share information and interact with others and to list the following associated with the individual’s social media profile: The question has a drop-down menu that lists 20 specific social media platforms: Immigration petitions filed in the United States do not contain the question. Visitors from friendly “visa waiver” countries who must complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) screening process are requested, but not required, to provide social media handles. without a visa, they are exempt from completing the DS-160, except for investors and a few other categories, but are subject to the DS-260 requirement. Because Canadians generally can enter the U.S. The DS-260 (Online Immigrant Visa Application) is required for family and employment-sponsored green card applicants applying from outside the United States. The DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) generally is required for applicants seeking temporary, nonimmigrant visas, including business visitors, tourists, family visitors, students, executives and managers, technology workers and other specialty occupation workers, doctors, scientists, and investors. Visa applicants and their sponsors and employers should be prepared for overall slower processing times and increased visa denials. Department of State Forms DS-160 and DS-260, affects all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants – short-term visitors and green card applicants alike. The requirement, which appears on the U.S. On May 30, 2019, the United States began requiring that visa applicants provide the social media identifiers for all accounts used within the last five years.