Applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form.
The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced a new requirement for all applicants applying for nonimmigrant visas in the F, M, and J categories. Starting immediately, applicants must disclose all social media usernames or handles they have used over the past five years when completing the DS-160 visa application form .
The Mission warned that applicants must certify the accuracy of their submissions. “Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit,” the notice states, and it cautions that omission of social media details “could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas” .
This measure aligns with broader U.S. policy enhancements requiring student and exchange visa applicants to make their social media accounts publicly accessible for vetting. The U.S. State Department emphasises that consular officers will closely review digital activity for indications of national security threats, including hostile sentiments, support for terrorism, antisemitism, or harassment .