US Embassy mandates public social media settings for Nigerian student visa applicants
The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced a new requirement for Nigerians applying for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas—primarily student and exchange visitor categories.
Effective immediately, applicants must set all personal social media accounts to “public” as part of the visa screening process.
This update was shared on Monday via the official X (formerly Twitter) page of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria.
“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 announcement read.
The Mission explained that the measure is intended to enhance identity verification and support security vetting procedures.
“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.
The U.S. Department of State had previously signaled this change in June 2025, emphasizing that U.S. visas are a privilege, not a right.
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In a June 18 update on its website, the Department stated: “We will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on their social media profiles to ‘public.’”
The statement concluded by stressing that every visa decision is a matter of national security. “The United States must remain vigilant to ensure that applicants do not pose a threat to Americans or U.S. interests and that they fully meet the eligibility criteria for the visa sought.”
