Abuja, Nigeria – The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced a significant new requirement for applicants of F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas: all personal social media accounts must now be set to “public.” This directive, effective immediately, aims to enhance the vetting process for individuals seeking to enter the U.S. for educational and exchange purposes.
F, M, and J visas are specific nonimmigrant categories issued by the U.S. government. F visas are for academic students and those in language training programs, M visas are for vocational and non-academic students, and J visas are for exchange visitors participating in various programs, including cultural exchanges, training, and research.
The new mandate means that applicants in these categories must proactively adjust the privacy settings of their personal social media profiles to “public” as a compulsory part of their visa application.
The development was officially announced via the United States Diplomatic Mission Nigeria’s X (formerly Twitter) page on Monday. The post clearly stated:
“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.’”
According to the Mission, this change is designed to “complement vetting efforts aimed at determining applicants’ identities and their admissibility to the United States.” This suggests a deeper scrutiny of applicants’ online presence to assess their background, activities, and potential ties that might be relevant to their eligibility for entry.
While the U.S. government began requesting social media handles from nearly all visa applicants globally in 2019, this specific mandate for public settings on F, M, and J visas marks a significant intensification of scrutiny for these academic and exchange categories within Nigeria.
For Nigerian students, scholars, and exchange program participants, this new requirement places a direct onus on them to meticulously review and manage their digital footprint before applying. It also raises questions regarding personal privacy and the extent to which a government can demand access to individuals’ online interactions as a condition for entry.
Applicants are advised to ensure full compliance with this new rule, as failure to do so could potentially lead to delays or denials in their visa processing. This development underscores the evolving nature of visa application processes, with digital presence playing an increasingly critical role in national security and immigration vetting.
