More parliamentarians embroiled in expenses scandal; Teens face day two of social media ban
Australian travellers will be forced to provide their social media details to US authorities to enter the country under the popular visa waiver program, as part of new Trump administration rules for “enhanced vetting” of foreigners.
Applying for a visa waiver is also set to get more complicated, with authorities planning to collect far more detailed information including five years of phone numbers, 10 years of email addresses, IP addresses and metadata from electronically submitted photos, biometrics, and information about family members.
President Donald Trump dances to music after speaking at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono on Tuesday. Credit: AP
Australia is one of 42 countries with access to the Visa Waiver Program, allowing visitors to enter the US for 90 days by obtaining a waiver, known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which is available quickly and costs only $US40 ($60).
A notice filed by US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security overnight is seeking comment on a proposal that will require ESTA applicants to provide the names of their social media accounts for the past five years.
Michael Koziol, North America correspondent, has the full report.
