Officials will request the additional information when they determine "that such information is required to confirm identity or conduct more rigorous national security vetting," a State Department official said on Wednesday. The State Department said earlier the tighter vetting would apply to visa applicants "who have been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities." The Office of Management and Budget granted emergency approval for the new questions for six months, rather than the usual three years. While the new questions are voluntary, the form says failure to provide the information may delay or prevent the processing of an individual visa application. "The United States has one of the most stringent visa application processes in the world," Yousefzadeh said.

Source: bd News24 May 31, 2017 23:37 UTC