Washington is considering new requirements for foreign tourists
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is planning to tighten entry rules for tourists coming from several countries by imposing new requirements for broader pre-travel personal information disclosure than is currently in place.
Today, Monday, marks the end of the deadline for receiving objections and comments regarding the proposed amendments. The agency will later review them, and additional changes may occur before implementing the reforms, although no specific timeline for their enforcement has been announced.
These measures are expected to include travelers relying on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which allows entry into the United States without a visa for tourists and business people from over 40 countries participating in the visa waiver program, permitting stays of no more than 90 days.
Last December, the Customs and Border Protection Agency proposed new amendments to the ESTA application that caused some uncertainty.
Among the notable upcoming changes is the requirement for those wishing to enter the United States to disclose information about their social media accounts used within the last five years, a move the agency has not clearly specified in terms of its objective, according to the U.S. Federal Register.
