The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a new directive requiring applicants for certain non-immigrant visas, specifically F, M, and J categories to make their social media accounts public as part of enhanced security screening.
The guidance, published on the embassy’s official website, affects individuals applying for academic (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visas. These categories are commonly used by students and professionals seeking educational or training opportunities in the US.
The embassy said the policy is in line with a Presidential Proclamation on national security that came into effect on 9 June 2025, which mandates stricter identity verification and screening measures for foreign nationals.
“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’,” the notice reads.
The move is intended to help consular officers assess the credibility and eligibility of visa applicants, particularly in the context of national security concerns and efforts to prevent the entry of individuals deemed to pose a risk to the United States.
While applicants from countries affected by the Presidential Proclamation can still submit visa applications and attend interviews, the embassy warned that visa issuance or admission may be denied based on security findings.
The US Department of State said in June that all available information, including an applicant’s online presence would now be evaluated as part of the visa screening process.
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the statement said, adding that the US government must ensure all applicants genuinely intend to pursue the purposes stated in their visa category and pose no threat to American interests.
The new policy is expected to impact a significant number of Nigerian students and professionals hoping to study or participate in exchange programmes in the US.
It is not yet clear how long the directive will remain in effect, but officials emphasise that compliance with the new guidelines is now a mandatory part of the application process for these visa types.