According to a directive issued by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, applicants must disclose all social media usernames and handles used during the previous five years as part of the visa application process.
On Monday, a post on the Mission’s official X account announced the directive, which coincides with the US Department of State’s recent reaffirmation of its commitment to strengthening national security by implementing more stringent screening procedures.
According to the U.S. Mission, Nigerian visa applicants must submit a detailed list of their social media accounts on the DS-160 visa application form.
Risk of visa rejections
It cautioned that failing to provide the information might result in visa rejections and possible disqualification for subsequent U.S. visas.
The post read, “Visa applicants must 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.”
Social media screening for Nigerian visa applicants
Techpression reported in July that the U.S. Mission in Nigeria mandated all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas to change the privacy settings of their personal social media accounts to “public” to facilitate more extensive background checks.
The new rule, which was made public on Monday via the Mission’s official X page, takes effect right away for exchange visitors and students planning to visit the US.
“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public,” the post read.
The Mission grants F, M, and J visas to nonimmigrants travelling for educational and cultural exchange.
According to the Mission, the policy will allow thorough screening to confirm applicants’ identities and admissibility.
“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 threaten US national security,” the post said.
Previous announcement to vet applicants’ social media
On June 18, the U.S. Department of State announced a planned update to its website, stating that it would conduct more thorough vetting, including examining applicants’ online presence.
“We will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications,” the statement read.
“To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public”
The statement added, “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 and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.”