Main image via Hindustan Times + Inc.com + The Conversation
Are you travelling to the United States of America soon or do you know someone who is? You’ll definitely want to take note of this.
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Travellers to the US are required to apply for a visa that can be valid for up to 10 years.
If you’re thinking of applying for one now, you’ll be required to declare all your social media accounts!
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The Online Non-immigrant Visa Application (DS-160) form now has a dedicated section for social media that requires applicants to list all the social media accounts that have been used by the individual over the last five years.
All your usernames on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Weibo, etc. will need to be declared under the new section. If you have more than one account per social media platform, an “Add Another” option is easily available.
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“We are constantly working to find mechanisms to improve our screening processes to protect US citizens while supporting legitimate travel to the United States,” the US State Department was reported as saying.
For those who do not use any social media platforms, you’ll have an option to declare as much. However, if you’re found to have lied about your social media accounts, you might face serious immigration consequences.
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Speaking to Hill. TV, a US Department of State official said, “As we’ve seen around the world in recent years, social media can be a major forum for terrorist sentiment and activity. This will be a vital tool to screen out terrorists, public safety threats, and other dangerous individuals from gaining immigration benefits and setting foot on US soil.”
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So, for those of you thinking of applying for a US visa, make sure you declare all your social media accounts! Share this information with someone who’ll be travelling to the US soon!
Info via Malay Mail
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