The United States Embassy in Nairobi announced on Friday that all Kenyans applying for a U.S. visa must now provide their social media usernames or handles from every platform they have used in the last five years.
This new directive is part of the visa application process and must be included on the DS-160 visa application form, which covers temporary travel purposes such as tourism, business, studies, or medical treatment.
Requirement for listing social media accounts
The embassy’s statement emphasised that visa applicants must disclose their five-year social media history.
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form,” the announcement reads.
Applicants must certify that the information provided is truthful and complete before applying. Failure to provide this information may result in visa denial or disqualification from obtaining future US visas.
This measure is part of enhanced screening procedures implemented by the United States Department of State in June 2025, which aim to protect national security and public interests.
The directive reflects increased vetting and scrutiny to deter illegal entry and potential threats.
Impact on Kenyan visa applicants
This requirement adds a new layer to the vetting process for Kenyan applicants. Individuals must provide traditional application details and a full disclosure of online identities.
Visa officers will use this information as background checks to establish their identity and assess their admissibility under US law.
A notable element is the demand that visa applicants adjust the privacy settings of their social media accounts to ‘public’ for necessary vetting in some cases.
The diplomatic mission’s caution is clear: “Omitting social media information on your application could lead to visa denial or ineligibility for future US visas.”
This underscores the seriousness with which the US government regards the authenticity and transparency of visa applications in the digital age.
Since social media content can reveal more than formal application documents, this move indicates a shift toward more comprehensive digital background checks. For Kenyans planning to visit the US, it means preparing social media records alongside other paperwork from now on.
This new requirement applies universally, so applicants must be ready to comply whether applying for tourist, student, business, or medical visas.
The US Embassy in Nairobi encourages all applicants to carefully list this information to avoid delays or disappointments during the visa process.