Want to apply for US Visa? Applicants need to submit ‘social media’ info as ‘Extreme Vetting’ kicks in

As extreme vetting kicks in nearly all who are applying for US visas will now have to submit their social media details under new rules kicked in by the State Department. As per the State Department regulations, people will have to submit social media names and five years' worth of email addresses and phone numbers, while applying for the visas.

The authorities last year estimated that if this law comes in force, it would affect 14.7 million people annually. As per reports, certain diplomatic and official visa applicants will be exempt from the stringent new measures.

"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 department reportedly said.

The Trump administration first proposed the rules in March 2018. Earlier, only applicants who had been to parts of the world controlled by terrorist groups were needed to fulfil additional vetting. But now almost all applicants will have to to give up their account names on a list of social media platforms.

Anyone who lies about their social media use could face "serious immigration consequences", according to an official.