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The United States government, through the Department of State has began implementing a new requirement that compels US visa applicants to provide their social media usernames, previous email addresses and phone numbers.
US Visa applicants will be required to provide the above details for a period of five years preceding their application.
This latest requirement is part of a broad and enhanced screening process under the administration of President Donald Trump and could affect up to 15 million people.
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File image of Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, US President Donald Trump, America's First Lady Melania Trump and Kenyan First Lady Margaret Kenyatta
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A statement sent to the Associated Press by the Department of State stated that “National security is our top priority when adjudicating visa applications, and every prospective traveler and immigrant to the United States undergoes extensive security screening.
"We are constantly working to find mechanisms to improve our screening processes to protect US citizens, while supporting legitimate travel to the United States".
The regulation was previously only applicable to applicants who needed additional vetting such as people who had been to parts of the world controlled by terrorist groups.
The directive however exempts certain diplomatic and official visa applicants while people traveling to the US to work or to study will now have to hand over the above information.