The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a new directive requiring all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas—designated for students and exchange visitors—to set all their personal social media accounts to “public” as part of the application process.
The announcement was made on Monday via the Mission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle and takes immediate effect.
“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to ‘public,’” the statement read.
Why This Matters
According to the Mission, the change is aimed at strengthening the visa screening and vetting process. Officials say it will provide U.S. immigration authorities better access to applicants’ digital behavior to identify security risks and evaluate eligibility.
“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the statement added.
Background
This policy follows a June 18, 2025, announcement by the U.S. Department of State, which introduced tighter visa screening guidelines. The department emphasized that digital footprints would now play a critical role in determining who qualifies for U.S. student and cultural exchange visas.
“To facilitate this vetting, all applicants… will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public,’” the Department’s earlier statement said.
A National Security Priority
The U.S. government has reiterated that visa issuance is not a right, but a national security decision.
“The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission do not intend to harm Americans or U.S. interests, and that applicants credibly demonstrate their eligibility and intent to comply with the conditions of their visa.”
What This Means for Applicants
Applicants for the F (academic students), M (vocational students), and J (exchange visitors) visa categories must now:
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Review and adjust all personal social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok) to public mode.
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Understand that their online content will be reviewed as part of the visa assessment.
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Ensure that any digital activity reflects compliance with U.S. immigration and national security standards.
