VISA Applications May Require Five Years of Social Media Information

The State Department wants to make some major changes to the visa application process, specifically, they want every applicant to disclose any social media handles used in the past five years over to the government, Engadget reports.

This level of disclosure would include both immigrant and non-immigrant applicants. Those applying for a visa would also have to turn over any telephone numbers and email addresses used in the past five years as well.

This isn't the first time personal information like this has been requested, however. Previously, the State Department requested social media information from candidates they determined required more scrutiny, such as those who had traveled to countries with high-levels of terrorist activity.

Approximately 15 million visa applicants could be affected by this change.