US visa applicants to be asked about social networks accounts

The US authorities approved appendix to the questionnaire for applicants for entry visas, which, among other, has a question about social networks accounts. Meduza reported.

As noted, the appendix was approved by the administrative-budgetary department of the Presidential Administration on May 23. Its validity period is until November 30, 2017.

In addition to social networks accounts used in the last five years, the applicant can be asked about the number of all previously issued foreign passports, as well as his/her detailed biography for the last 15 years, including data on employment and travels to different countries of the world.

The decision on filling in the appendix is taken by the employee of the consular department of the Embassy in his discretion. Additional questions may be asked if such information is «needed to prove the identity or to conduct a thorough check in the interests of national security," the Department of State explained.

A visa applicant is not obliged to answer all the questions in the appendix to the questionnaire, however, it is specified in the document, refusal to provide information can slow down the process of considering a visa application or can lead to visa denial.