If you have friends and relatives planning to visit the United States from non-visa waiver nations, be warned. It might have just become a lot harder for them to enter the United States. Or, to be exact, it's become far more cumbersome for some to fill out the paperwork required to apply for a visa to travel to the United States.
Last week, the administration rolled out a new supplemental questionnaire for visa applicants. The new form asks applicants to provide their social media handles for the past five years as well as listing all biographical information for the past 15 years, including every country they've visited during that time, along with information on how that trip was funded.
In the fine print, the form does state that providing the requested information is voluntary, but failure to comply might result in the denial of a U.S. visa. In a separate section, the form also states "Failure to answer every question will not necessarily preclude visa issuance, as the application is considered in its entirety.
The new supplemental form has received strong vocal opposition since it was submitted in early May for "emergency review."
Among those opposed is the American Society of Association Executives, who said the existing vetting is already "comprehensive."
"Individuals from non-Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries already undergo a comprehensive, multi-layered process to obtain a temporary visa to enter the U.S. for tourism or business purposes," wrote Chris Vest, Director of Public Policy for the American Society of Association Executives. "They must complete an online application for a visa, and the information they provide is checked against terrorism watch lists and databases. They then appear for an in-person interview with a State Department consular officer who is trained to look for red flags in their application. They must show proof that a return ticket has been purchased and that they have a place to stay in the U.S., and answer a series of biographic questions. They have to have their photos and fingerprints taken. All of that information is subject to analysis by State Department officials and cross-checked by Customs and Border Protection when they arrive at a U.S. airport."
While much concern over the new form has been about the caveat that designated applicants must now list their social media handles, many legal analysts agree that the providing of 15 years of biographical information could be a bigger issue.
". . . it is conceivable that most applicants will have difficulty recalling the full scope of information requested and providing supporting documentation where needed, in particular, to verify the source of funds for travel that may have occurred a decade and a half ago," wrote the American Immigration Lawyers Association in an official comment. "This could easily lead to unintentional errors in completing the form that could then lead to denial of a visa for misrepresentation and future bars to admissibility."
It should be noted the new supplemental form will not be used for all visa applicants, but just those who have been deemed to need extra vetting "in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities," according to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR). The OFR estimates that some 65,000 applicants will be required to use the form annually. In context, the U.S. State Department issued more than 10.3 million visas last year, of which more than 9.7 were for visitors or nonimmigrants.
Interestingly, while there was much vocal opposition to the new vetting form, commentary on the official government site was somewhat anemic, garnering just 241 responses during the official commentary period. (In contrast, a similar document calling for a review of voice calls on airlines last December received more than 5,000 official comments.)
[READMORE]READ MORE: Why is the US Now Checking Foreign Travelers' Social Media Accounts?[/READMORE]
While some comments supported stricter security measures, most voiced their opposition to the new vetting form.
Jointly, three of the most powerful American travel lobbies, the U.S. Travel Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce submitted a statement asking for any changes to be "clearly and precisely communicated."
"New policies should also be paired with adequate resources and business practices to avoid unnecessary burdens on travelers, implemented with clear security benefits, and accompanied by an offsetting, welcoming message to minimize potentially negative perceptions among international visitors."
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