The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has announced a new requirement for visa applicants: Nigerians applying for U.S. visas must now disclose all social media usernames and handles used in the past five years. This move, effective August 2025, is part of enhanced security screening designed to strengthen vetting procedures.
What the New U.S. Visa Rule Means for Nigerians
All Nigerian applicants for non-immigrant U.S. visas—including visitor visas, student visas, and work visas—are now required to provide details of their social media history when completing the DS-160 application form.
Applicants must:
- List all usernames or handles across platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and others.
- Certify that the information provided is accurate and complete.
- Understand that failure to disclose or providing misleading details may lead to visa denial or even future ineligibility.
Why the U.S. Introduced Social Media Disclosure
The U.S. State Department has emphasised that this policy is aimed at enhancing national security by assessing applicants’ online activity and ensuring transparency. While social media screening previously applied to student (F, M, J) visa categories, it now extends to almost all non-immigrant visa.
According to officials, reviewing online profiles provides an additional layer of verification, especially for applicants from countries with high travel volumes such as Nigeria.
What Nigerians Should Do Before Applying
To avoid delays or denials, Nigerian applicants are advised to:
- Compile a full list of social media usernames used in the last five years, even if accounts are inactive.
- Be consistent—ensure the names provided match other documents submitted.
- Avoid omissions—failing to disclose accounts, even old ones, could be seen as misrepresentation.
- Clean up digital profiles—be mindful of public content that may be reviewed during the vetting process.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
If an applicant fails to disclose social media handles or provides inaccurate details:
- Their visa application may be denied immediately.
- They risk being declared ineligible for future U.S. visa applications.
- Additional administrative delays may occur, extending the processing period.
- Apple Watch Launches Hypertension Notifications Feature - 10/09/2025
- Mawingu Raises $15 Million for East Africa Expansion - 10/02/2025
- Gregory Rockson Leaves CEO Role at mPharma - 09/15/2025
