US Plans Mandatory Five-Year Social Media Check for All Foreign Visitors Under New Trump Policy The Trump administration is proposing sweeping new entry rules that would require all foreign travellers—including Britons—to submit five years of social media history, email addresses, phone numbers, and detailed family information before being allowed into the United States. The plan, revealed in a notice published in the Federal Register, would make social-media screening mandatory for both visa and ESTA applicants. The new policy also seeks expanded biometric data collection, including face scans, fingerprints, iris scans, and possibly DNA. Rights groups have raised concerns as reports increase of travellers being denied entry based on phone content or online posts critical of President Trump. The proposal comes amid ongoing controversies over free speech, including clashes between the Trump administration, media figures, and institutions like Harvard University. A 60-day public consultation period is now open. #USImmigration #TrumpAdministration #SocialMediaScreening

News Brief: US to Begin $15,000 Visa Bond for Some Visitors. The U.S. State Department has announced a new visa bond pilot program requiring some visitors to deposit up to $15,000 as collateral to discourage visa overstays, a move aligned with President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown. Beginning August 20, applicants for B-1 or B-2 visitor visas from countries with high overstay rates or deficient vetting systems may be asked to pay bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The bond will be refunded if the visa holder complies fully with the visa terms; it will be forfeited if they overstay. “Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond… as a condition of visa issuance,” the notice reads. Impacted travelers will also be required to enter and depart from a list of pre-approved U.S. airports. The 12-month program, targeting certain unspecified countries, is being justified as part of the Trump administration’s push to enforce immigration laws and protect U.S. national security. Critics view it as another restriction on travel, while supporters argue it's a necessary deterrent against abuse of temporary visas. #USVisaBond #TrumpAdministration #VisaOverstay #ImmigrationPolicy #TravelAlert #B1Visa #B2Visa