The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced a new policy requiring applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas—typically granted for study or exchange programmes—to adjust the privacy settings of their personal social media accounts to ‘public’.
According to a statement issued via the Mission’s official X (formerly Twitter) page on Monday, the policy takes immediate effect and forms part of enhanced vetting procedures aimed at verifying applicants’ identities and assessing their admissibility to the United States.
The directive affects all categories under the F (academic students), M (vocational students), and J (exchange visitors) visa classifications. Under the new rule, applicants must ensure that their social media profiles are publicly visible throughout the visa application process.
“This requirement is intended to support the overall vetting process for nonimmigrant visa applicants and to strengthen identity verification,” the consulate noted.
This development aligns with the U.S. Department of State’s June 18, 2025 update, which formalised the review of social media activity as part of the visa assessment protocol for applicants in these categories.
Reiterating its stance, the United States Government maintained that a visa remains a privilege and not a right, stressing the importance of transparency and security in the admission of foreign nationals.
