Lagos, Nigeria – The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced new social media guidelines for Nigerians applying for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas, which are primarily issued to students and participants in exchange programmes.
In an announcement made via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the U.S. Consulate stated that, effective immediately, all applicants under these visa categories are now required to set their personal social media accounts to “public” as part of the application process.
“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 mission stated.
The consulate explained that this new directive is aimed at enhancing vetting procedures used to verify applicants’ identities and assess their admissibility to the United States.
This update follows a June 18, 2025, notice by the U.S. Department of State, which outlined expanded social media screening measures for F, M, and J visa classifications.
The U.S. government reiterated that obtaining a visa is “a privilege, not a right,” stressing that the added requirements are part of efforts to uphold national security and ensure thorough background checks.
The new rule is expected to impact thousands of Nigerian students and exchange visitors planning to study or participate in academic programmes across the U.S.
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