The United States government has announced that Nigerian visa applicants must list all their social media usernames or handles they have used in the past five years as part of the application process, according to the guidelines on the DS-160 form.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria, which made this known in a statement issued on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, warned that failure to comply with the requirement will lead to visa denial.
“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,” the statement read.
The requirement, which applies to both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants from Nigeria and other countries, is part of enhanced vetting procedures introduced by the U.S. Department of State under the President Donald Trump administration.
The Department had said the measure was aimed at strengthening national security by allowing consular officers to review applicants’ online presence as part of background checks.
On the DS-160 form, applicants are asked to provide usernames or handles from major social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter (now X), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and others, covering the last five years.
The form specifies that only usernames or handles are required, not passwords.
The statement further emphasised that applicants must also certify that all information provided in their visa applications is “true and correct” before signing and submitting the form.
“Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit,” the statement added.
The U.S. authorities caution that failing to disclose accurate and complete social media information could result in visa denial, delays in processing, or even ineligibility for future visa applications.
“Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the statement warned.
The U.S. Department of State has reportedly defended the measure as a necessary security precaution.
“Collecting this additional information strengthens our process for vetting applicants and confirming their identities,” the department reportedly stated when the rule was first implemented.
Civil liberties groups, however, have raised concerns about privacy and freedom of expression.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has argued that requiring visa applicants to disclose social media accounts could chill free speech, especially for individuals from countries with repressive governments.
But despite these concerns, the policy remains in effect.
Visa applicants are strongly advised to provide full disclosure of their social media activity to avoid jeopardizing their eligibility.
