The US Embassy in Nigeria has introduced a new requirement for students applying for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas. Applicants must now set their social media accounts to “public” to facilitate vetting efforts.
This move aims to enhance the visa screening process and identify potential security threats.
Visa Categories Affected are F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas for educational and exchange purposes. Applicants must adjust their social media account privacy settings to “public” to complement vetting efforts and determine applicants’ identities and admissibility to the US without further delay.
The US Embassy stated that every visa adjudication is a national security decision, and they must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure applicants don’t pose a threat to US national interests.
The embassy uses all available information, including social media, to identify inadmissible applicants.
Applicants may face increased scrutiny due to their online presence being more visible.
Some applicants might be concerned about the implications of making their online activity visible.
The US government aims to improve national security by thoroughly vetting visa applicants.
