WASHINGTON: A month back, Rex Tillerson, US Secretary directed the US State Department to identify ‘populations warranting increased scrutiny’ and toughen the screening of visa applications for few countries.
Now according to the sources news the news is yet to be official about US Government toughening the scrutiny by making it mandatory for visa applicants to give their biographical information for the past 15 years along with their social networking accounts, though the government will not be asking passwords of their social accounts.
Applicants from countries such as from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, the countries targeted by Trump’s 6 March executive order, as well as members of populations identified as security risks will have to these additional question criteria before being accepted by US.
Trump has said enhanced screening of foreigners is necessary to protect the country against terrorist attacks.
A set of new questions would apply to visa applicants “who have been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities,” the State Department said in a notice to the Federal Register.
“Collecting additional information from visa applicants whose circumstances suggest a need for further scrutiny will strengthen our process for vetting these applicants and confirming their identity”, said an official of the State Department.
Applicants who have travelled places falling “under the operational control of a terrorist organization”, would also be required to give additional information about their travel dates to these place when the consular officer determines about these areas said the State Department.
The new proposed changes are yet to be official depending upon the decision by the Office of Management and Budget on May 18, as reported in DC