Travellers face enhanced scrutiny as US tightens grip. Photo Credit: iStock/rarrarorro
Under a new proposal from the Trump administration, travellers from dozens of nations may be required to submit five years of social media history – plus the names and addresses of family members – as part of their entry screening.
The proposed rule would apply to all travellers eligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which allows visitors from visa-waiver countries to enter the US for up to 90 days without a visa.
This includes several APAC nations such as Singapore, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
Analysts say the move could deter potential visitors at a time when the US is preparing for a major surge in inbound travel. The country is set to host millions of international fans for next year’s men’s football World Cup in partnership with Canada and Mexico, followed by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The greater scrutiny on travellers resurfaces uncertainty, in spite of the expedited visa process for World Cup travellers.
Earlier this month, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s proposed a “full travel ban”, which is still being evaluated.
At the time of writing, the US travel ban list includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen; while restricted entry applies to travellers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.