The United States Embassy in Nigeria has directed all visa applicants to disclose their social media usernames and handles used in the last five years as part of the visa application process.
The directive, announced on Monday via the Mission’s official X account, is in line with the U.S. Department of State’s enhanced security screening measures aimed at strengthening national security.
According to the Mission, Nigerian visa applicants are now required to provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles when filling out the DS-160 visa application form.
The statement noted that failure to comply with this requirement could lead to denial of visa applications and possible ineligibility for future U.S. visas.
The post read:
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.”
The development underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to tighter security checks, particularly through digital footprint tracking. It also signals a stronger emphasis on transparency and accountability in the visa application process.
This move may impact thousands of Nigerians seeking to travel to the United States for studies, business, tourism, or other purposes, as applicants will now need to carefully review and declare all their past and current social media handles across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and others
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