All candidates for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas are now required to change their social media account privacy settings to “public,” according to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.
The US government grants the F, M, and J non-immigrant visa categories to people traveling to the US for exchange and educational purposes.
According to the mission, a new visa requirement for applicants in certain categories is to make their personal social media profiles public.
The upgrade went into effect immediately, according to a Monday announcement on the official X page of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria.
All applicants for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are asked to change the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to “public” with immediate effect, the message stated.
The article states that the modification is intended to support screening procedures that ascertain applicants’ identities and suitability for entry into the US.
The article stated, “In our visa screening and vetting process, we use all available information to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security.”
The United States insisted that its visa “is a privilege, not a right” when it first announced the update’s June plan.
Under the new guidance, “we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications,” the US Department of State announced on its website on June 18, 2025.
“All applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas will be directed to change the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public’ in order to expedite this vetting.”
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the statement continued.
“The United States must exercise vigilance throughout the visa-issuance process to ensure that, among other things, applicants credibly demonstrate their eligibility for the desired visa, including their intention to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission, and that those seeking admission do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests.”
The action is intended to “facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States,” the US consulate said.
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