The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced new visa rules for Nigerian students and exchange programme applicants. From now on, anyone applying for F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas must make their personal social media accounts public.
The announcement was made on Monday through the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria.
According to the embassy, the new guideline takes effect immediately and applies to students and exchange visitors coming to the U.S. for study or training.
“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 post read.
The U.S. government says the move is aimed at helping authorities verify applicants’ identities and assess their eligibility to enter the United States.
The new policy follows a June 18 notice from the U.S. Department of State, which clarified that social media vetting would now be part of the visa screening process for these categories.
The U.S. has also reminded applicants that holding a visa is not a guaranteed right but a privilege that can be granted or denied based on national interest.
F, M, and J visas are commonly used by foreign students, vocational trainees, and exchange visitors seeking to study or gain experience in the U.S.
The embassy has advised all current and future applicants to follow the instructions carefully to avoid delays or denials in visa processing.
