Will not providing social media information affect the US visa?

According to reports, last month, the Trump administration formally proposed a stricter review of visa applicants, demanding more social media information. Recently, the State Council officially released an extended version of the questionnaire, forcing applicants to disclose their social media activities in the past five years and trace their resumes back to 15 years ago.

The visa review policy was approved by OMB Bureau of Management and Budget on May 23rd. According to this policy, visa officers of American embassies and consulates can ask visa applicants to provide all past passport numbers, social media materials, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers in the past five years, and personal information in the past 15 years, including addresses, employment information and travel records. Although the answers to these new questions are completely voluntary, the relevant questionnaire forms show that failure to provide the above information may delay the visa application and even lead to the direct refusal of the visa.

Will Cox, an official in the State Council, said that about130,000 foreigners apply for visas to the United States every year, and about 1% of them will receive an expanded questionnaire. If the visa officer believes that this additional information is necessary for identity confirmation or stricter national security review, then the visa applicant should provide this information. Cox also said that about 85% of the applicants who received the expanded questionnaire will eventually get a US visa.

Some immigration lawyers believe that there are many irrationalities in the New Deal, such as requiring applicants to report all mobile phone numbers, email addresses and social media accounts used in the past five years. Many people simply can't remember so many details.