Aussies may soon face social media screening to obtain US holiday/ESTA visa.

[Arabian]

I think this will go to apply on everybody if it passes. The upcoming World cup might be a disaster. Not that i like to travel but personally, I keep it very simple. Any country with political tensions, uncertainty and creating obstacles towards visitors. AVOID.  

[smashed]

7 hours ago, Arabian said:

I think this will go to apply on everybody if it passes. The upcoming World cup might be a disaster. Not that i like to travel but personally, I keep it very simple. Any country with political tensions, uncertainty and creating obstacles towards visitors. AVOID.  

This is pretty much every country in the world haha. Visiting a country is a privilege, not a right. There should be *some* type of regulations/checks so things such as terrorists don't have free rein. Kind of common sense, to a point.

[bmac]

16 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Five Eyes already share information and can pre-emptively thwart entry into their respective countries.  

Every country should mandate retina, fingerprint, and DNA sample as a condition for entry. No country is obligated to let anyone in.

Yes

[Chas.Alpha]

On 12/11/2025 at 1:24 PM, El Presidente said:

 

If the below gets up, my second half March plans for a US tour will be thrown into the trashbin 

______________________________________________________________________________

The Trump administration is proposing to ask visitors from several dozen nations that enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S. to submit additional personal information before entering the country, including five years of their social media history, the Department of Homeland Security said in a notice this week.

Citizens of 42 countries enrolled in the visa waiver program can generally come to the U.S. for up to 90 days for tourism or business travel, without needing to apply for a visa at an American embassy or consulate, a process that can take months or even years.

The list of countries in the visa waiver program includes many European nations like the United Kingdom, Germany and France, as well as some U.S. allies around the world, including Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

 

While citizens of these nations typically don't need visas to travel to the U.S., they still have to submit an application online using a process known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, before entering the country. That system is designed to ensure applicants are eligible for visa-free travel to the U.S., and that they don't pose security concerns.

The Trump administration is proposing to overhaul the ESTA system, mainly to transform it into a mobile-only process. The plan would require applicants to share additional information about themselves and their relatives, according to a notice posted in the federal government's journal of regulations by Customs and Border Protection, a branch of DHS.

The notice said CBP plans to ask visa waiver travelers to share their social media history for the past five years, emails they have used for the past 10 years and the personal information of immediate family members, including phone numbers and residences. The submission of social media history from the last five years will be a mandatory requirement under the proposal, according to the notice. 

You have other options… 🙄

[Chas.Alpha]

I’m not easily embarrassed, but… 😔

[Li Bai]

18 minutes ago, Chas.Alpha said:

You have other options… 🙄

Is this a real thing ??

[Chas.Alpha]

2 minutes ago, Li Bai said:

Is this a real thing ??

I shite you not.

[Li Bai]

Wow... Looks like I'm not going to get one any time soon 😅

[ha_banos]

16 hours ago, Li Bai said:

Wow... Looks like I'm not going to get one any time soon 😅

Is that because you're getting us all Platinum cards!?

[Li Bai]

24 minutes ago, ha_banos said:

Is that because you're getting us all Platinum cards!?

Wait... Are Platinum cards a thing too???

[ha_banos]

13 minutes ago, Li Bai said:

Wait... Are Platinum cards a thing too???

Patience sir. Patience. 

[ha_banos]

Actually. I'm surprised this isn't 1btc gold. 5btc platinum.

[BrightonCorgi]

On 12/14/2025 at 4:54 AM, Li Bai said:

Is this a real thing ??

And long overdue. Many countries have similar programs.

[LordAnubis]

Hahaha I’ll plan my holiday to New York 😂😂😂

[Li Bai]

5 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

And long overdue. Many countries have similar programs.

I respect your point of view brother, but as a son of immigrants I have very mixed feelings about that kind of things.

Not to mention that Mr Trump put his name on it. 🤔

 

[BrightonCorgi]

4 hours ago, Li Bai said:

I respect your point of view brother, but as a son of immigrants I have very mixed feelings about that kind of things.

Not to mention that Mr Trump put his name on it 🤔

That does not mean the end to traditional methods of immigration. Just like other countries that have golden passport programs. Everyone in the US is of immigrant heritage.

[Li Bai]

4 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

That does not mean the end to traditional methods of immigration. Just like other countries that have golden passport programs. Everyone in the US is of immigrant heritage.

That's what I thought and I knew about those golden passports too but I'm not sure about that shortcut "if they're wealthy they're welcome".

One day when we meet in person I'll tell you how a few uber rich made Paris fashion week's afterparties forever forbidden in a certain Parisian palace's accommodations and amenities...

But I get it, in today's World, money's the most trusted credential.

[BrightonCorgi]

4 hours ago, Li Bai said:

That's what I thought and I knew about those golden passports too but I'm not sure about that shortcut "if they're wealthy they're welcome".

That's why there is an application process. It's more than carte blanche if you're wealthy. You need to prove you don't have malintent. 

I'd be curious to see what the denied application rate will be.

[Chibearsv]

6 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I'd be curious to see what the denied application rate will be.

Aye, there’s the rub!

[Namisgr11]

I'm not seeing it as widespread mandatory, let alone universal, for visa entry into other countries. For instance:

Common Practices

Australia: Requires applicants to disclose social media accounts, which may be reviewed during the visa process.
Canada: While not mandatory, applicants may be asked about their online presence, especially if there are concerns regarding security or criminal history.
United Kingdom: Social media information is not routinely requested, but applicants may be questioned about their online activities during interviews.
New Zealand: Similar to the UK, social media screening is not standard but can occur if deemed necessary.

[Arabian]

5 hours ago, Li Bai said:

I respect your point of view brother, but as a son of immigrants I have very mixed feelings about that kind of things.

Not to mention that Mr Trump put his name on it 🤔

The name is kinda tacky I know, but many countries offer citizenship via investments. They target rich individuals, usually from sanctioned/war torn countries. Dubai has multiple offices for those Caribbean countries golden citizenship. You don't even need to visit the country. The issue is how some of those wealthy individuals got their wealth in the first place?

[MrBirdman]

5 hours ago, Arabian said:

The name is kinda tacky I know, but many countries offer citizenship via investments. They target rich individuals, usually from sanctioned/war torn countries. Dubai has multiple offices for those Caribbean countries golden citizenship. You don't even need to visit the country. The issue is how some of those wealthy individuals got their wealth in the first place?

This is my concern with these programs - they tend to attract unsavory oligarchs, especially this platinum card, whose money often is more a product of kleptocracy and corruption. They can hang out in London as far as I'm concerned, I'll pass on the revenue. 

[BrightonCorgi]

14 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

This is my concern with these programs - they tend to attract unsavory oligarchs, especially this platinum card, whose money often is more a product of kleptocracy and corruption. They can hang out in London as far as I'm concerned, I'll pass on the revenue. 

Let even worse people in for free that don't have any money as it is.

[MrBirdman]

7 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Let even worse people in for free that don't have any money as it is.

It’s not an either/or situation, fortunately, and in any case this system doesn’t supplant anything. If you want to spend two-thirds of your time here, pay taxes. 

[El Presidente]

Plenty of countries have "Golden Visas". Tacky, yes. Still each to their own. 

I am all for Biometric security at airports. Take as many finger prints, retina scans as you want. Every country has the right to do so. Oz does it. 

Ask as many questions of me as you want. 

Oz Border Force does have the capacity to inspect digital devices within the airport customs precinct (plane gate to immigration clearance). They use it when they suspect criminal or immigration fraud activity. I know of no one personally to whom it has been done but the power is certainly there and it is used regularly. The US CBP has the same powers now. No problem with that. 

Turn over five years of social media history to look for content that conflicts with U.S. interests or policies? That needs to be fleshed out. Which administrations policies?  Immigration, Tariffs, anti-semitism?, Venezuela?, Mexico?, Canada?, Ukraine? This administrations policies? What about the next administration's policies?