The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced a new requirement for visa applicants, directing them to submit details of all social media accounts they have used in the past five years.
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The directive, announced on Monday through the Mission’s official X account, is part of measures by the U.S. Department of State to strengthen national security through improved vetting processes.
According to the new guideline, Nigerians applying for a U.S. visa are expected to provide their usernames or handles from any social media platform on the DS-160 application form. Officials cautioned that failure to disclose this information may result in a visa refusal and possible ineligibility for future applications.
The Mission further explained that applicants are required to certify that all details provided are accurate. It stressed that obtaining a U.S. visa is considered a privilege rather than a right, adding that the additional screening step is designed to protect both national security and public safety.
According to multiple sources, today’s DS-160 form must now include all social media usernames or handles someone has used over the past five years. What’s more, omitting them—or providing false or incomplete info—could lead to visa denial and possibly even affect future eligibility.
It’s understandable that the U.S. government frames this move as an effort to bolster security and vet digital footprints. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has defended it, saying that it’s part of a broader push to tighten screening measures. But as someone watching things more broadly, this raises serious concerns about privacy, fairness, and how much power visa officers now have in assessing someone’s character through online presence.