The United States Embassy in Nigeria has introduced a strict new requirement for Nigerians seeking visas to the US — all applicants must now provide a complete history of their social media usage over the past five years.
In an official statement posted on its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, August 18, 2025, the US Mission stated that visa applicants are required to list every username or handle they have used on all social media platforms when filling out the DS-160 form — the standard non-immigrant visa application form.
The announcement has sparked conversation across Nigeria, especially among frequent travelers, students, and those seeking to relocate to the US.
“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form,” the statement read.
The US Mission emphasized that the information provided must be complete and truthful. Applicants must certify that everything filled in the form is accurate before submitting it. Any form of dishonesty or omission, they warned, may have serious consequences.
“Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the Mission warned.
The new directive means that applicants must be prepared to give detailed social media histories, including any name or handle they may have used on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others.
Applicants must not leave out any profile they used within the last five years — even if the account is no longer active or was used only briefly.
The US Embassy made it clear that failure to provide complete information or attempting to mislead the consular officer could not only result in immediate visa denial but may also affect future visa applications.
This move is part of the US government’s broader effort to tighten visa screening procedures and enhance security, especially after growing global concerns over online radicalisation, fraud, and other threats that may be linked to digital activities.
Though the policy was first introduced globally by the US Department of State in 2019 during the Trump administration, enforcement has been stepped up in recent years.
Nigeria, being one of the countries with a high number of visa applications to the US annually, has now become a focus area for stricter implementation.
At the time of the original policy rollout in 2019, the US government said it was implementing the rule to better vet individuals for potential security risks.
Under that global policy, nearly all applicants for US immigrant and non-immigrant visas — including tourists, students, and business travelers — are required to provide their social media identifiers, along with other personal information.
The rule applies to about 15 million people worldwide who apply for US visas each year.
Visa applicants are advised to gather and carefully document all the usernames or handles they have used on any social media platform over the last five years. These details must be entered into the DS-160 form during the visa application process.
Applicants should double-check the form for accuracy before submitting, as even small errors or omissions can raise red flags.
Experts also advise applicants to review their past posts on social media and ensure that nothing on their profiles could be interpreted as threatening or inconsistent with the purpose of their visa application.
It is also important to remember that deleting accounts or hiding information does not remove the requirement to report them. If discovered, such actions may be seen as an attempt to deceive the US government.
This policy is not only a visa requirement but also a wake-up call for Nigerians to be more cautious about what they post online. With social media becoming a part of immigration checks globally, online behavior is now more important than ever.
The US Mission in Nigeria has advised applicants to read the instructions carefully on the official visa website and to ensure that all required information is provided honestly and in full.
