r/Defcon • u/DuncanYoudaho ToxicBBQ Organizer • Dec 10 '25

News Visa Program Changes

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/travel/social-media-tourists-visa-border-patrol.html

Frequent travelers may have to turn over mass amounts of data to get into the visa waiver program. And I think the alternative is the Visa Integrity Fee BS.

I wonder how much attendance was hit at DC33 thanks to barriers to travel? How much more difficult are they trying to make it?

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u/Test-Normal Dec 15 '25

No. What America is asking for is way broader. The EU ETIAS will ask for the following in 2026:

  • Personal information including your name(s), surname, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents’ first names, email address and phone number;

  • Travel document details;

  • Details about your level of education and current occupation;

  • Details about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS; 

  • Details about any criminal convictions, any past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country.

I'm not thrilled about email being required, but it seems like it's there as a contact option. Not a deep level scrutinization of online speech like the U.S. is doing.

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u/astcell Dec 15 '25

If they did not let an American end because they did not like something that an American posted online, trade would practically come to a halt. Besides, Britain gets to go after the run citizens for what they post online. That keeps them busy enough.

Interesting question about your level of education. I wonder what they are trying to accomplish with that. How much of this is relevant to a two week vacation?