America wants 5 years of social media history from tourists: How new rules will impact Indian visa seekers | Explained

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The United States is preparing a significant change to its border screening system, requiring foreign tourists to submit five years of their social media history before being allowed to enter the country. The new rule, published in the Federal Register, reflects how deeply social media is now linked to visa evaluations under the Trump administration. The move comes at a time when H-1B interviews in India have already been postponed due to expanded digital scrutiny.

A notice cited by Bloomberg reports that US Customs and Border Protection will make social media disclosure compulsory for travelers entering under the Visa Waiver Program. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the agency “is adding social media as a mandatory data element” in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, also known as ESTA.

This change would apply to citizens of around 40 countries that can travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. These include most European nations, as well as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Qatar, Chile, Israel and others.

The proposal also expands the collection of personal information. Customs and Border Protection plans to record email addresses and phone numbers used in the past five years, along with the names and addresses of family members.

Indians do not fall under the Visa Waiver Program. However, similar requirements have already been placed on visa categories widely used by Indian travelers and students. Earlier this year, the US Embassy in India announced that all visa applicants must disclose social media handles from the past five years.

In its public statement on X, the Embassy said, “Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit.” The Embassy also warned that violations could result in rejection and ineligibility for future visas.

The tightening is not limited to tourists or students. Just last week, the US State Department announced that it would expand its “online presence review” to H-1B visa holders and their dependents. Soon after this directive, the US Embassy in India postponed scheduled H-1B interviews, causing confusion and travel disruptions.

These changes follow Trump’s campaign promise to aggressively restrict immigration. Since taking office again, his administration has issued multiple orders aimed at tightening legal as well as irregular immigration pathways.

The scrutiny may affect global sports tourism. The United States will host FIFA World Cup matches next year, which will draw large crowds from visa-waiver nations such as the United Kingdom. The country is also preparing to host the 2028 Summer Olympics. Travelers attending these events could be required to submit detailed digital histories before receiving permission to enter.

The US government says the new rules will help “enhance security and ensure the integrity” of the visa process, a phrase frequently used by Trump officials when justifying digital surveillance as part of immigration checks. The public has 60 days to respond to the proposal before it can formally move forward.

This heightened scrutiny also follows a recent shooting in Washington, DC, involving an Afghan national accused of injuring two US National Guard members, one of whom later died. The administration cited such incidents as proof of the need to protect the country by reviewing the online presence of foreigners more aggressively.

Whether the stricter measures will deter potential travelers or simply become another bureaucratic requirement remains uncertain. For now, the United States appears determined to make social media history a standard part of global travel.