US Embassy Mandates Nigerian Visa Applicants To Remove Social Media Privacy To Enable Background Checks

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has issued a new directive requiring all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas—primarily students and exchange visitors—to set their personal social media accounts to “public.” The policy takes effect immediately.

Announced via the Mission’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, the move is aimed at enhancing background checks and vetting processes.

ALSO READ: FG Sets 16 as Minimum Admission Age for Tertiary Institutions

“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.

F, M, and J visas are designated for nonimmigrants entering the U.S. for educational or cultural exchange purposes. The embassy emphasized that this step will allow for more thorough verification of applicants’ identities and their eligibility to enter the country.

“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 update follows a June 18 notice on the U.S. Department of State website outlining plans for expanded vetting of visa applicants’ online activity.

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the Department stressed. “The United States must ensure that individuals seeking entry do not pose a threat and that they intend to engage only in the activities permitted by their visa category.”