Thinking Of Touring The US? Here's What You Need To Know About The Visa Changes

Over the weekend, the United States brought into play a number of new regulations that means all visa applicants will be required to hand over social media usernames. 

Concerns have since been raised regarding how likely these changes will affect Australian touring artists, including the steps musicians will now have to take to acquire a US visa. 

Badlands Group is an international touring consultancy service for artists and managers alike that offers support with worldwide entertainment visas, tour management/operations, and events. The Music spoke to Sophie Kirov, head of the group, to shed some light on what the changes will mean for Aussie artists.

"The new changes are effective immediately for those applicants who will need to complete the DS-160 as part of their B-1/B-2, O or P visa applications," Kirov explained.

"It involves additional questions asking if the applicant has had a social media presence on a selected list of social platforms in the past five years including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and requests you provide your handles/usernames on those platforms and all previous email addresses. You do not need to provide passwords."

At this stage, Kirov confirmed this will be the only additional step that bands, crew persons and the like will need to take to apply for a US visa.

"As is the case across all information you provide during the processing of your US visas, assuming the information is honest and to the best of your knowledge, applicants should not be overtly concerned that their visa will be denied," Kirov continued.

"What will be imperative during this process however is ensuring that posts across your social platforms are in line with the information you have already provided within the DS-160 and your petition. Further, given the new screening measures, applicants should be conscious of the type of content they have posted across their social platforms in the past, including anything that could be interpreted as criminal behaviour, or a polarising viewpoint.

"Should a visa be denied, then you and your attorney in the US can decide to appeal the decision and go through the necessary processes."

For more information about Badlands Group, follow the link here.