The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced a new requirement for Nigerians applying for student and exchange visas (F, M, and J categories). All applicants must now set their personal social media profiles to “public” as part of the visa screening process.
The embassy announced the update on its official X (formerly Twitter) page on Monday, stating that the directive takes immediate effect. F, M, and J visas are typically issued to students and participants in educational or cultural exchange programmes.
“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 statement read.
According to the US Mission, this policy is part of enhanced vetting measures aimed at verifying applicants’ identities and ensuring that only eligible individuals enter the United States.
“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 US national security,” the post added.
Back in June, the US Department of State had signaled its intent to strengthen vetting procedures. On June 18, it stated that all F, M, and J visa applicants would undergo a thorough background check—including a review of their online presence.
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the department emphasized. “The United States must be vigilant… to ensure that those applying for admission do not intend to harm Americans or US interests.”
The new guideline reflects Washington’s stance that obtaining a US visa is a privilege, not a right, and that digital footprints are now a critical part of immigration assessment.
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