What to Know About US Entry and Social Media History, 2025?

A Major Change for Tourist Entry

The United States government is making a huge change to how people can visit (US Entry). It is planning to ask tourists for a long history of their online lives.

The proposal comes from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It would make it a rule for foreign visitors to hand over five years of their social media history. This is not an option. It would be a mandatory step.

This new rule is aimed at travelers from about 40 countries. These countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Citizens from these nations can visit the US for up to 90 days without a formal visa. They currently only need a simple online clearance called ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).

The new rule makes the simple ESTA process much more complex. It shows the US is serious about its tough approach to border security.

Why Does The US Want This Information? US Entry

The government says this massive data collection is necessary. They say it is all about national security and stopping terrorism.

• Vetting to the Maximum: The proposal follows a White House order. That order demands that all visitors be “vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
• Finding Threats: Officials argue that checking social media can help find people who plan to cause harm. They want to find anyone who supports violence, extremism, or terrorist groups. They want to stop them from entering the US.
• Consistency: The US already asks for social media history from many other types of visa applicants. These include people seeking student visas and work visas. This new rule would make the check standard for almost all foreign visitors.

The government believes that a person’s online posts can show their true intentions. They see it as a way to predict bad behavior.

More Than Just Social Media

The proposal does not stop at social media. The application for the ESTA would become much longer and harder to fill out. The CBP is also asking for other very personal details.

• Email and Phone Numbers: Visitors would have to provide all email addresses used in the last 10 years. They must also give all phone numbers used in the last five years.
• Family Details: The application would ask for detailed information about family members. This includes their names, places of birth, dates of birth, and home addresses.
• Biometric Data: The CBP is also planning to increase its collection of biometric data. This includes facial scans, fingerprints, DNA, and iris scans.

This new policy means a casual tourist will now face the same level of deep checking that was once only for high-risk immigrants.

The Big Problems with the New Rule US Entry

The plan has caused a storm of worry from many groups. Privacy advocates and travel experts say the rule will cause major problems.

Problem One: Privacy and Digital Rights

• Mass Surveillance: Critics say this policy is a form of mass digital surveillance. It sweeps up the private lives of millions of innocent people every year.
• Chilling Free Speech: People will be afraid to express their opinions online. They will start to self-censor. They will avoid talking about politics or world events for fear of being denied entry. This hurts the idea of free expression.
• No Guarantees: Once the US collects this data, there is no guarantee on how it will be stored or used. This worries citizens of allied countries who have strong privacy laws. US Entry

Problem Two: The Threat to Tourism

The US tourism industry is already losing visitors and money. This new rule could make things much worse.

• Avoiding the US: People from countries like the UK, Germany, and Japan are used to easy travel. If the process becomes too invasive and complex, many tourists will simply choose a different destination. US Entry
• Loss of Revenue: Fewer tourists mean less money spent in the US. The US travel industry fears a huge loss of revenue. They warn that the policy is not visitor-friendly. US Entry

A Threat to Key Allies US Entry

The VWP includes many of America’s closest allies. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and most of Europe are on the list. US Entry

The rule says that citizens of these allied nations are a threat unless proven otherwise. This is seen by many as a slap in the face to countries that work closely with the US on security matters. These countries may choose to retaliate with similar checks on US citizens. This would make global travel much harder for everyone. US Entry

The Final Decision Is Not Yet Made

The proposal was published in the Federal Register. This starts a 60-day public comment period. During this time, anyone can send in their opinions about the change.

• Weighing the Comments: The US Customs and Border Protection must look at all the public comments. They will then decide if they want to finalize the rule, change it, or abandon it completely. US Entry
• Implementation Timeline: If the rule is approved, it could start to take effect in the middle of the next year. This would be right before the huge expected rush of tourists for the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. US Entry

The final decision will show where the US puts its priority: on strict border security or on friendly international travel.

Five Years of Social Media History

The proposal to demand five years of social media history from foreign tourists marks a major shift. The US Customs and Border Protection is trying to implement the most rigorous national security vetting yet. This move will affect travelers from many allied nations who rely on the Visa Waiver Program. The rule raises huge concerns about privacy and free speech. It may also hurt the US tourism industry. The next 60 days are a crucial time. The world will watch to see if the US decides to go through with this new era of digital surveillance for its foreign visitors. US Entry

Read More Articles Click Here. Read Previous Articles Click Here.