The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has announced that visa applicants must now disclose all social media usernames and handles used within the past five years as part of their application process.
The directive, shared on the Mission’s official X handle on Monday, aligns with the U.S. Department of State’s efforts to strengthen national security through enhanced vetting measures.
Applicants are required to provide this information on the DS-160 visa application form, certifying its accuracy before submission.
The Mission warned that failure to include social media details could result in visa denial and potentially render applicants ineligible for future U.S. visas.
The post said: “Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form.”
This policy underscores the growing importance of transparency in digital footprints during visa screenings and is aimed at identifying potential security risks.
Applicants are encouraged to ensure all disclosures are complete and truthful to avoid complications in the application process.