The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced a new requirement for all non-immigrant visa applicants, mandating the disclosure of their social media history from the past five years.
In a statement issued on Monday, the embassy said applicants must provide usernames or handles from every platform they have used within the period when completing the DS-160 visa application form.
“Applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles used in the last five years on the DS-160 form. By signing and submitting the application, they certify that all information provided is true and accurate,” the mission stated.
The embassy cautioned that failure to disclose such details could lead to visa denial and possibly render applicants ineligible for future applications.
The DS-160 form is the standard requirement for most US non-immigrant visas, including tourism (B-2), business (B-1), student (F and M), and work visas such as the H-1B.
Officials explained that the policy is part of wider national security measures, building on previous directives that required international student visa applicants to make their social media accounts accessible for background checks.
In July, holders of F, M, and J visa categories were specifically directed to adjust their privacy settings to give US authorities unrestricted access.
While Washington maintains the move is aimed at bolstering security and screening processes, it comes against the backdrop of frequent US criticism of governments restricting free expression online.
Earlier this month, US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills clarified that the policy is not intended to punish Nigerians but to strengthen security vetting and ensure faster, more reliable service delivery.
