The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering one of the most extensive expansions of digital-identity checks in US immigration history. The plan would require travelers under the Visa Waiver Program to provide detailed social media histories from the past five years, alongside other personal information, as part of efforts to strengthen national security and identity verification.
In addition to social media accounts, applicants may also need to submit email addresses used over the last decade, phone numbers from the past five years, IP addresses, detailed family information, and even advanced biometrics such as facial scans, fingerprints, iris data, and DNA. Officials argue that the move will improve the detection of fraud and help confirm identities more accurately.
A key operational change is the proposed transition from the existing ESTA web portal to a mobile-app-only submission process. This would impact millions of travelers from the 40 countries currently covered under the Visa Waiver Program, potentially increasing compliance requirements and processing times.
The new regulations are linked to Executive Order 14161, issued in January 2025, which directs federal agencies to enhance vetting procedures to identify potential foreign security risks. DHS officials have emphasized that mandatory social media disclosure is intended to strengthen the assessment of travelers and align with updated federal biographic-data rules.
Public feedback is being invited over a 60-day period after the formal publication in the Federal Register. Stakeholders and travelers alike have the opportunity to comment on the implications of mandatory social media disclosure, mobile-only submissions, and the broader expansion of personal data collection.
The proposed policy represents a significant shift from the current optional disclosure of social media activity, signaling a major increase in scrutiny for visitors entering the US visa-free. Officials say the measure will help identify potential security threats, prevent fraudulent entries, and improve overall border security.
