US tightens visa rules for Moldovans

The US Embassy in Moldova will require visa applicants to disclose all their social media usernames used in the past five years.

“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” Caliber.Az reports, citing the diplomatic mission's Facebook post.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic bordering Ukraine, has faced significant challenges, including Russian cyberattacks and hybrid threats, as it pursues closer ties with the European Union and NATO. The U.S. has bolstered support for Moldova, providing $320 million in aid since 2022 to counter Russian influence and strengthen border security, amid concerns over Russian-backed separatist activities in Transnistria.

By Khagan Isayev