NIGERIA:  US Embassy Adds Social Media Checks To Visa Application Process

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The United States Mission in Nigeria has implemented a new visa policy requiring all Nigerian applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas to set their personal social media accounts to public.

The directive, which took immediate effect, was announced via the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria on Monday, as part of intensified vetting procedures aimed at enhancing national security.

The statement reads: “All individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to ‘public.”

The F, M, and J visa categories are typically granted to students and exchange visitors seeking educational or cultural experiences in the U.S.

According to the embassy, this new requirement is intended to “complement vetting efforts to determine applicants’ identities and admissibility to the United States.”

The post emphasized: “We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security.”

This move follows an earlier notice issued on June 18, 2025, by the U.S. Department of State, which outlined its plan to increase scrutiny of online presence for student visa applicants. The Department stated that visa adjudication is a national security decision, not a right.

The Department said: “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests.”

The announcement has stirred conversation among prospective Nigerian students and stakeholders in the education sector, with some expressing concern over privacy, while others view it as a necessary measure in global travel security protocols.

The U.S. government maintains that applicants must credibly establish their eligibility and the authenticity of their stated purpose for visiting, including proof of intent to engage in activities consistent with their visa classification.