U.S. Tightens Visa Rules, Demands Five-Year Social Media History from Nigerian Applicants

The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced new visa requirements mandating applicants to disclose all social media usernames and handles used in the past five years. The directive, announced on Monday through the Mission’s official X account, is part of broader U.S. efforts to strengthen national security through enhanced screening.

According to the Mission, Nigerian applicants must now provide a complete list of social media profiles when completing the DS-160 visa application form. Failure to do so could lead to immediate visa denial and possible ineligibility for future applications.

The Mission stressed that applicants are required to certify the accuracy of all information before signing and submitting their application. Any omission or falsification, it warned, would be treated as a serious violation that could negatively impact both current and future visa requests.

The U.S. Department of State explained that the new measure aims to incorporate applicants’ digital footprints into the vetting process, reflecting a global trend where governments increasingly use online activity as part of background checks.

This policy shift is expected to affect thousands of Nigerians applying for various categories of U.S. visas each year.