If you are about to apply for a United States visa, you should be ready to set your social media accounts public as a new requirement announced by the US Embassy in Manila came into effect which covers even more applicants, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news. Some parts in boldface…
Applicants from more US visa category groups are now required to set their social media accounts public, based on the latest advisory of the US Embassy in Manila.
Effective March 30, visa applicants who need to change their social media privacy setting belong to the following categories:
* Fiancé(e) Visa Applicants (K-1, K-2, and K-3 visas)
* Certain Personal Employees or Domestic Workers (A-3, C-3, and G-5 visas)
* Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitors (H-3 and their H-4 dependents)
* Cultural and Religious Visitors (Q, R-1, and R-2 visas)
* Informant, Witness, and Victims of Crimes (S, T, and U visas)
These categories are in addition to Students and Exchanges (F, M, and J) and Specialty Occupations (H-1B and their H-4 dependents) categories.
According to the embassy, it is using such information “to determine applicants’ eligibility to receive a visa.”
Since 2019, it said, the US has required visa applicants to provide social media usernames on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms.
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames, handles, or identifiers for every platform they have used in the last 5 years on the visa application form,” it said.
“Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit,” it added.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you submit your social media accounts and set them all public the last time you applied for a US visa?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Author Carlo Carrasco 