US visa to include social media information

A new enforcement by the Trump administration includes an extreme visa screening process for foreign nationals, including those from India, under which applicants might be asked to share information regarding their social media accounts, e-mails, and telephone numbers. The State Department, which issues visas to foreign nationals through its diplomatic missions across the world, said that it started implementing this new change from May 25, but these additional questions would be asked only in extreme circumstances. The State Department took these measures after President Trump signed an executive order in this regard. “In accordance with the memorandum on enhancing the screening and vetting of applications for visas, the Department of State has begun collecting additional information from visa applicants worldwide when a consular officer determines that such information is required to confirm identity or conduct more rigorous national security vetting,” said Will Cocks, a State Department spokesperson.