The entry of tourists into the United States through the visa-free system will become stricter. A new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rule determines that whoever requests the Esta (Electronic Travel Authorization System), an electronic authorization used by travelers from countries that do not require a visa, will have to provide a history of up to five years of activities on social networks.
The measure expands the volume of information required and reinforces the pre-boarding screening process, in line with the tightening of immigration policy under the Donald Trump administration.
The objective would be to strengthen national security filters and identify behaviors considered suspicious before boarding, automating screening and admissibility verification.
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More requirements for countries
The changes directly affect citizens of around 40 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows stays of up to 90 days without a traditional visa. Although Esta works as prior authorization, it does not guarantee automatic entry: the final decision remains with the migration agent.
With the inclusion of new mandatory fields, the process will become more detailed, and, in practice, more invasive. Experts warn that the greater volume of data could result in longer analyses, requests for clarification or even denials of boarding. Frequent travelers who rely on quick commutes may experience delays or additional checks.
