The United States Embassy in Nigeria has asked all applicants for F,M and J non-immigrant visas to adjust their social media privacy settings.
This directive was announced via their official website and was also shared on the official X page of the embassy and it applies to individuals seeking to participate in academic and vocational exchange programs in the US.
According to the notice, this measure is a part of the vetting procedures aimed at verifying the admissibility of applicants under the US law.
“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law,” the notice reads.
“Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation on Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 9, 2025, the United States is suspending or limiting entry and visa issuance to nationals of certain countries.
“Applicants who are subject to this Presidential Proclamation may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States.”
In June, the State Department, in a statement, stated that the US Visa is “a privilege, not a right.” And further instructed all applicants to adjust the privacy settings on their profiles to ‘public’.
The department said it will ensure proper vetting and visa screening to identify applicants who might pose a threat to the country.
