The United States government has announced that Nigerian visa applicants must now provide all social media usernames or handles they have used in the past five years as part of the application process. In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria warned that failure to comply with the requirement would result in visa denial.
The guideline, captured on the DS-160 visa application form, applies to both immigrant and non-immigrant applicants. It stems from enhanced vetting measures introduced by the U.S. Department of State under the Trump administration, aimed at strengthening national security by allowing consular officers to review applicants’ online presence.
Applicants are required to list usernames or handles—without providing passwords—from platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok, covering the last five years. The U.S. authorities stressed that visa applicants must certify all information provided as true and correct before submission, warning that incomplete or false disclosures could lead to denial, processing delays, or even ineligibility for future applications.
The Department of State has defended the policy as a necessary step to improve identity verification and background checks. However, civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have criticized the requirement, arguing that it threatens privacy and may discourage free expression. Despite these concerns, the policy remains in effect, and applicants are strongly advised to provide full disclosure of their social media activity to safeguard their eligibility.
Source: https://saharareporters.com/
