US Visa Application To Get More Burdensome For Nigerians, New Terms Introduced

The United States State Department has released new conditions for a US Visa application. In 2017, the United States President, Donald Trump said the country will embark on “extreme vetting” process to keep America and its citizens safe. The US had carried out this process in the past, but this affects about 65,000 people per year.

According to BBC, nearly all applicants for US visas will have to submit their social media details as part of stepped up screening of foreign visitors and immigrants.

The new regulations which was first announced last year and taking effect this month, also require that people also submit five years’ worth of email addresses and phone numbers.

This is part of the state department’s plan to ensure national security in the country.

“National security is our top priority when adjudicating visa applications, and every prospective traveler and immigrant to the United States undergoes extensive security screening,” the department said via an initial proposal in 2018.

“We are constantly working to find mechanisms to improve our screening processes to protect U.S. citizens, while supporting legitimate travel to the United States.”

An estimated 14 million travelers and 710,000 immigrants who apply to enter the United States annually will be affected by the changes, according to notes in the Federal Register.

The official said national security is the top priority and every would-be traveler or immigrant already faced screening, including requirements to list their travel history, family member information, and previous addresses.

For Nigeria, the Trump administration is said to be mulling stricter means to keep Nigerians from overstaying visas in America.

According to a report by WSJ, the Trump administration wants “to reduce overstay rates for visas and the visa waiver program — and it’s well known that the administration is working to ensure faithful implementation of immigration welfare rules to protect American taxpayers”.

The new policy requirements will not affect applicants for diplomatic and official visa types. The American Civil Liberties Union had opposed the proposal, arguing the questions would create “an environment ripe for profiling and discrimination.”