The United States Embassy in Nigeria has introduced a new visa application requirement mandating the disclosure of all social media accounts used by applicants over the past five years.
The policy, announced Monday on the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, applies to all visa categories and takes immediate effect.
Applicants must now list every social media platform username or handle they have maintained since 2019 when completing the DS-160 visa application form. The embassy emphasised that providing false information or omitting social media accounts could result in visa denial and potential ineligibility for future US visa applications.
This enhanced vetting procedure requires applicants to certify the accuracy of all submitted information before signing their applications. The measure appears designed to strengthen security screening processes by allowing US immigration officials to review applicants’ digital footprints across platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and others.
The policy aligns with broader US government efforts to intensify immigration screening since 2019, when the State Department first proposed collecting social media identifiers from nearly all visa applicants worldwide. Nigerian applicants now join citizens of other nations, subject to these expanded digital scrutiny measures.
Visa consultants advise applicants to carefully review their social media histories before submission, as controversial posts or connections could potentially affect adjudication decisions. The embassy maintains that the information will be used strictly for identity verification and security purposes under US privacy laws.
The new requirement comes as US consular offices in Nigeria continue processing a high volume of visa applications across student, business and tourist categories. Applicants are encouraged to allow additional processing time to accommodate the enhanced screening protocols.
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cc: The Guardian NG
