The new rules are included in a new proposal from the Department of Homeland Security, which outlines how it plans to meet Donald Trump’s requirement that foreign visitors be “vetted and screened to the greatest extent possible.”
The drastic move follows the Trump administration’s plan to expand the travel ban on people visiting the US from more than 30 countries.
Brits are among dozens of countries eligible to visit the US for up to 90 days without a visa if they complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.
The new requirements could affect tourists visiting the US next year for the men’s World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, and for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement: “This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion about new policy options to protect the American people.”
Here’s everything we know about the proposed new rules:
What is currently required to enter the US?
Currently, British citizens can enter the US by applying for an ESTA online for $40 (£30). Applicants must provide an email address, home address, telephone number and emergency contact information. If approved, the ESTA lasts for two years.
After landing in the US, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials can inspect your phone.
Some tourists have reportedly been expelled from the country for making unfavorable comments about Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
A French scientist was turned away at the US border in March after messages “reflecting hatred of Trump and could be described as terrorism” were found on his phone.
If the new proposal goes through, people wanting to enter the U.S. will have to provide every work phone number used in the past five years and every work email address used in the past 10 years. Individuals will also be asked to provide more information about family members.
The CBP also suggests that a selfie is required for ESTA applications.
The proposal also states that people will be asked to “provide their social media from the past five years”, but it does not specify what this will mean in practice.
The Trump administration previously said it would review the social media accounts of foreigners applying for student or H-1B visas.
Applicants were required to list any usernames or social media handles from any platform they have used in the past five years. If social media information is not included, their current and future visas may be denied.
Agents were instructed to screen applicants “who advocate, designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security, or who engage in unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence.”
The proposed ESTA rules are open for public consultation for 60 days.
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