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U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

bloomberg.com

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Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#51

Post by chx »

ineedtosleep wrote: post #13

Pretty absurd that they're asking for all of this and: > [...] In addition to their social media histories, visa applicants will be asked for five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, international travel and deportation status, as well as whether any family members have been involved in terrorist activities. I know a number of people going through, or have been through, the US visa process an…

> five years of previously used telephone numbers,

I couldn't tell even if I wanted to, I go somewhere, pick up a SIM card, trash it when I leave. These days many countries sell them from machines or newsstands at the airport, this is not unusual any more.

Japan and the UK, both from 2015: https://cdn.techinasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Screen... http://travelpal.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploa... and actually even the USA, this is JFK: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CX0y79EWQAAGlfZ.jpg

Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#52

Post by scottybowl »

dmode wrote: post #41
scottybowl wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I couldn't disagree more - this focuses on giving Americans a chance to get employment before anyone else. What's wrong with that? I'm a Brit and would love the same policy here.

Seriously? How does a visitor coming to see Grand Canyon take away a job from American ?

My bad, I thought this was for work visas.

Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#54

Post by r00fus »

gph wrote: post #11

What if you don't have any social media accounts? Are they just going to assume anyone who says they don't is lying or trying to hide something? Seems like a dumb policy to require details on a purely voluntary activity.

I really hope it's not perceived or implemented as mandatory "at least one" required.

Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#55

Post by scottybowl »

dmode wrote: post #41
scottybowl wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I couldn't disagree more - this focuses on giving Americans a chance to get employment before anyone else. What's wrong with that? I'm a Brit and would love the same policy here.

Seriously? How does a visitor coming to see Grand Canyon take away a job from American ?

Actually, after reading the article, this doesn't mention tourist visas so my previous point is valid

Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#56

Post by Someone1234 »

bsder wrote: post #30
Someone1234 wrote: post #24

People I've spoken to seem more comfortable acting like this is part of the current administration's agenda, rather than an encroaching trend which has been gradually getting worse year upon year. For example this specific policy was added as an "optional" (not really) question on an entry form before the 2016 presidential elections (I know, I wrote a letter protesting it during public comment period). My point is: B…

> My point is: Both Democrats and Republics have been complicit in allowing these kind of activities to continue. And the American public would sooner blame the other "side" in this political dog and pony show, than take responsibility for this being what America's fear based society has brought. Stop pushing this "both sides are the same" narrative. It's part of the damn problem. While the Democratic administrations…

> While the Democratic administrations may have continued these kinds of policies (and I will challenge you on whether they as bad as the Republican ones)

It is the same question, on a different immigration form. See this article from 2016:

http://fortune.com/2016/12/23/us-customs-social-media/

The proposal (and public comment period) came much earlier in 2016. This wasn't the result of legislation, the executive branch (both then and now) are doing this all by themselves.

So sorry, I'm not buying the whole, "well when MY party wins this will stop" debate. Both parties have been doing this and neither one seems to be slowing down or stopping. I don't care who is "worse" because actions speak louder than words, so until Democrats OR Republicans get into office and actively repeal these things, it is all just hollow words.

Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#58

Post by dboreham »

One thing to know is that apparently the reason for having seemingly idiotic questions on immigration forms ("are you a terrorist?", "are you a nazi war criminal?") is not that the government is stupid but rather that they're there in order to be able to deport someone for answering the question incorrectly in the event that the government wants to deport them but lacks sufficient evidence to pursue a criminal case. There's a blanket "you answer wrong, we deport you" law somewhere on the books.

Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#59

Post by ceejayoz »

bsder wrote: post #30
Someone1234 wrote: post #24

People I've spoken to seem more comfortable acting like this is part of the current administration's agenda, rather than an encroaching trend which has been gradually getting worse year upon year. For example this specific policy was added as an "optional" (not really) question on an entry form before the 2016 presidential elections (I know, I wrote a letter protesting it during public comment period). My point is: B…

> My point is: Both Democrats and Republics have been complicit in allowing these kind of activities to continue. And the American public would sooner blame the other "side" in this political dog and pony show, than take responsibility for this being what America's fear based society has brought. Stop pushing this "both sides are the same" narrative. It's part of the damn problem. While the Democratic administrations…

> You will have to pardon us if things like visas aren't at the top of the agenda right now.

I'm a lefty Democrat, but this is a cop-out. We've been shit on drone strikes and mass surveillance long before the Trump emergency was even a hint over the horizon.

There's extensive bipartisan cooperation in Congress on intrusive surveillance via the NSA, ICE, etc.

Re: U.S. To Seek Social Media Details from All Visa Applicants

#60

Post by floatingatoll »

tzahola wrote: post #53
floatingatoll wrote: post #33

Hacker News is a social media site that should be declared voluntarily under these rules.

Hacker News??? [ENTRY DENIED]

You laugh - but yes, precisely. The rules specify that you have to declare five years prior history, so if this worries you, keep that in mind!
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