Visa Application: US Now Demands Social Media Handles From Nigerian Applicants

The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced that Nigerians applying for visas must now provide their social media usernames and handles from all platforms they have used in the last five years.

The new requirement will be included in the DS-160 visa application form.

In a statement released on Monday morning, the US Mission warned that failure to provide the information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future applications.

“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.

Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit.

Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas,” the statement read.

The policy reflects Washington’s broader tightening of immigration screening, which places emphasis on digital footprints as part of background checks.

Consular officials are expected to use the provided information to verify applicants’ identities, monitor security risks, and assess potential red flags.