The U.S. announced that the applicants for all visas are required to include the information about their social media profiles utilized over the last five years as part of the application process.
According to a notification from the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, the guidance applies to those who are filling out the DS-160 form, the standard form for non-immigrant visa applicants. Applicants are required to give usernames or handles from all platforms that they have utilized within the time frame.
The policy, initially rolled out in 2019 in the Trump administration and sustained by President Biden, serves to further screen visas. American officials explained that reviewing job applicants’ presence online helps consular officers confirm identities and detect potential security risks.
Nigeria, which is a top origin of U.S.-bound travelers, also has the most engaged social media user base in Africa, with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (the rebranded Twitter) used extensively. This new visa disclosure requirement will allow consular officers to match social media use with visa data submitted.
The adjustment follows a July policy change that put tougher conditions on most non-diplomatic, non-immigrant Nigerian visas, such as single-entry three-month visas. Both changes reflect the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to tighten up immigration and security procedures.
