（Singapore, 18.12.2025）The United States is considering a major change to how it screens people entering the country, a move that could affect millions of travelers from close allies such as the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia. Under a new proposal, visitors who currently enjoy visa-free access to the US may soon be asked to provide years of social media history and a wide range of personal data before they are allowed to travel.
The plan, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in December, would significantly expand existing screening rules first introduced during President Donald Trump’s earlier term. Since 2019, people applying for US visas have been required to disclose their social media accounts. The administration now wants to extend similar checks to travelers who do not need a visa but must still apply online for advance authorization before entering the US.
At the center of the proposal is a new requirement for travelers from visa-waiver countries to submit their social media information from the past five years. These travelers currently use an online system to obtain approval for short stays, usually for tourism or business. If the new rules take effect, that process would become far more detailed.
Visa applicants are already required to list all social media identifiers they have used over the past five years. According to Bloomberg, DHS has not clarified whether visa-waiver travelers would need to provide the same level of detail, or exactly how the information would be assessed.
Beyond social media, the proposal outlines a broad range of additional personal information that travelers may have to submit “when feasible.” This includes phone numbers used in the last five years, email addresses used over the past ten years, IP addresses and metadata linked to submitted photos, and detailed information about family members, such as names, dates and places of birth, addresses and contact numbers.
The proposal also mentions biometric data, including fingerprints, facial images, iris scans and even DNA samples, though it does not explain how such data would be collected.
The rule was published in the Federal Register on December 10, triggering a 60-day public comment period before it can be finalized.
Currently, travelers from visa-waiver countries are only required to provide basic biographical details, such as their name, address, email, any past aliases and an emergency contact. The proposed changes would greatly expand both the volume and sensitivity of the information collected.
The US Visa Waiver Program covers citizens from 42 countries. According to Bloomberg, around 17 million people entered the US under the program during the 2023 fiscal year, highlighting how many travelers could be affected by the change.
The Trump administration argues that the expanded screening is necessary to protect national security. Officials say the US must ensure that incoming travelers do not hold hostile views toward the country or its citizens.
In an executive order tied to the proposal, the administration said authorities must be alert to individuals who may intend to carry out terrorist attacks, threaten national security, promote hateful ideologies or exploit immigration laws for harmful purposes.
Bloomberg reported that earlier this year, the State Department moved to cancel visas of foreign students whose social media activity appeared to support Hamas or other designated terrorist groups. The administration has also instructed officials to deny certain high-skilled work visas to applicants involved in misinformation research, content moderation or fact-checking, arguing such work contributes to censorship.
How do other countries handle social media checks?
Other countries do review social media in immigration screening, but usually in a more limited way. Immigration lawyers say most governments rely on publicly available information or targeted checks when applicants are flagged for further scrutiny.
Visa applications for Europe’s Schengen Area do not require travelers to list social media handles. However, Bloomberg noted that German authorities have encouraged officials to make greater use of open-source research, including social media, for risk profiling and fraud prevention.
Canada reviews public online information in some cases to verify facts, but does not require all applicants to disclose social media accounts. The UK also uses open-source intelligence selectively, without a blanket disclosure requirement.
What if someone has no social media?
DHS has not explained how it would treat applicants who have no social media presence, use private settings or delete their accounts. According to Bloomberg, US officials have previously suggested that a lack of online presence could raise concerns during visa reviews.
Immigration lawyers have advised applicants not to delete social media accounts just before or after applying, as that may trigger additional scrutiny.
Civil-liberties groups have criticized the proposal, warning it represents a major expansion of government surveillance and could chill free speech. Critics argue that old posts could be misunderstood or taken out of context.
Legal experts say the policy could face court challenges, though courts typically give the US government wide discretion on immigration and national-security matters. Bloomberg reported that business groups have also raised concerns, warning that tougher entry requirements could disrupt travel and tourism, an industry that supports millions of US jobs.
For now, the proposal remains under review. But if it is implemented, traveling to the US even without a visa may soon involve far deeper scrutiny than ever before.
