The United States (US) Mission in Nigeria has announced that all non-immigrant visa applicants must provide information on their social media accounts from the past five years
In a statement on Monday, the embassy said applicants are required to list all usernames or handles for platforms they have used during this period.
“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. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit,” the statement read.
The mission warned that failing to disclose such information could lead to visa denial and future ineligibility.
The DS-160 is the mandatory online form for most non-immigrant visa applications, including B-1 visas for business visitors, B-2 visas for tourists, F and M visas for students, and H visas for temporary workers such as the H-1B for specialty occupations.
This move builds on previous vetting measures. In June, international student applicants were instructed to make their social media accounts public.
In May, the Trump administration had suspended student visa appointment scheduling as part of broader restrictions on applicants deemed hostile. By July, students seeking F, M, and J visas were directed to adjust privacy settings to “public” for U.S. authorities to access during background checks.
The U.S. government says the measures are aimed at strengthening national security, though they come amid Washington’s criticism of other governments for limiting online freedom.
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