The United States Mission in Nigeria now demands a new requirement for individuals applying for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas, mandating that they change the privacy settings on all their personal social media accounts to “public”
These visa categories are designated for students and participants in educational or cultural exchange programs. The update, which takes immediate effect, was shared on Monday via the Mission’s official X handle.
“Effective immediately, 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 post stated.
According to the Mission, the new rule is aimed at strengthening the visa screening process and helping authorities better assess the background and intentions of applicants.
“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,” the statement explained.
This move follows a prior announcement by the U.S. Department of State on June 18, 2025, where it outlined changes to the visa screening process, with a particular emphasis on reviewing applicants’ digital footprints.
Under the revised guidelines, the Department said:
“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.
“To facilitate this vetting, all applicants… will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public.’”
The U.S. government emphasized that receiving a visa is a privilege, not a right, and stressed the importance of protecting national interests.
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the statement noted.
“The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission do not intend to harm Americans or U.S. interests, and that applicants credibly demonstrate their eligibility and intent to comply with the conditions of their visa.”
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