CBP publishes ESTA screening expansion in Federal Register; 60-day comment opens
Customs and Border Protection published a proposal in the Federal Register on Dec. 10 to expand screening for Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) travelers from roughly 40 countries and opened a 60‑day public comment period. The plan — pending OMB review and citing a January executive order on enhanced vetting — would make ESTA mobile‑only and require applicants to submit five years of social media history, five years of phone numbers, IP addresses and photo metadata, ten years of email addresses, biometric data (face, fingerprint, DNA, iris), immediate family members' personal information, and a selfie captured via a CBP app; critics warn it could dampen tourism ahead of events like the 2026 World Cup.
📌 Key Facts
- CBP formally published the proposed ESTA screening expansion in the Federal Register on Dec. 10 and opened a 60‑day public comment period; the proposal is pending review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- The proposal applies to travelers using the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) from roughly 40 countries.
- The overhaul would make ESTA a mobile‑only process and require applicants to use a CBP mobile app to capture a selfie.
- A social media question that was previously optional would become mandatory: CBP would require five years of social media handles/history, along with five years of phone numbers, IP addresses, metadata from submitted photos, and ten years of email addresses.
- CBP would expand biometric collection to include face, fingerprint, DNA and iris information.
- ESTA applicants would be asked to provide extensive immediate family information, including phone numbers, residences and places of birth.
- CBP cites a day‑one executive order calling for maximum/enhanced vetting as the policy context; this follows related State Department guidance that visa applicants set social accounts to public or risk denial.
- Critics warn the proposal could dampen tourism, a concern raised especially ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in North America.
📰 Sources (4)
Foreigners allowed to travel to the U.S. without a visa could soon face new social media screening
New information:
- Confirms CBP formally published the proposal in the Federal Register on Dec. 10, opening a 60-day public comment period.
- Clarifies scope: applies to Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) travelers from roughly 40 countries.
- Details the data sought: 5 years of social media handles, 5 years of phone numbers, 10 years of email addresses, metadata from submitted photos, and extensive family-member information (including places of birth and phone numbers).
- Notes context: State Department guidance requires visa applicants to set social accounts to public or risk denial; CBP cites compliance with a January executive order on enhanced screening.
U.S. to require foreign tourists to submit 5 years of social media history
New information:
- CBP plans to require immediate family members’ personal information (including phone numbers and residences) from ESTA applicants.
- The proposal is pending review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
- The overhaul would make ESTA a mobile-only process (in addition to prior reporting about a selfie/app requirement).
- CBP’s notice reiterates the 5-year social media history requirement will be mandatory and includes a 10-year email history collection.
- Critics warn the proposal could dampen tourism, including ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in North America.
Visiting the U.S.? The government wants 5 years of your social media.
New information:
- CBP’s proposal would add "high value" data fields to ESTA: phone numbers used in the last five years, IP addresses and metadata from submitted photos, email addresses used in the last 10 years, and biometric information (face, fingerprint, DNA, iris).
- Applicants would be required to use a mobile app to capture a selfie as part of the process.
- CBP notes the social media question was previously optional without adverse inference; under the proposal, five years of social media history would be mandatory.
- The notice cites a day‑one executive order directing maximum vetting, and confirms a 60‑day public comment window.