The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a new directive mandating that all applicants seeking F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas adjust their social media profiles to “public” visibility.
These visa categories, which cover international students and exchange programme participants, will now require greater transparency from applicants as part of tightened screening measures.
Announcing the change on Monday through its official X handle, the US Mission confirmed that the policy takes immediate effect. It explained that individuals applying for these educational and exchange visas must ensure their social media accounts are accessible publicly to comply with the revised entry requirements.
“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 post read.
According to the post, the change is meant to complement vetting efforts aimed at determining applicants’ identities and their admissibility to the United States.
“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security,” the post said.
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The United States government has reiterated that holding a visa remains a privilege rather than a right, as it enforces stricter screening guidelines for student and exchange visitor applicants.
In an update published on June 18, 2025, the US Department of State outlined that under the new policy, applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will undergo detailed vetting processes, which include reviewing their online activities.
“To support this enhanced screening, all individuals applying for these visa categories must set their social media profiles to public visibility,” the statement noted.
The department further emphasised that every decision on visa issuance carries national security implications, adding that authorities have a responsibility to ensure no applicant poses a threat to Americans or the country’s interests.
According to the statement, applicants must also prove they intend to pursue only activities that align with the terms of their visas upon entry.