The United States government has introduced a new requirement for Nigerians seeking entry into the country, mandating that applicants must provide details of their social media activity over the past five years.
In a statement posted Monday on X, the US Mission in Nigeria warned that those who fail to disclose their history risk being denied a visa.
“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 Mission declared.
This policy expansion comes amid broader immigration measures rolled out by the Donald Trump administration since his return to the White House in January 2025.
Just last month, the Mission began screening the social media accounts of Nigerian applicants seeking student (F), vocational (M), and exchange (J) visas. Monday’s announcement now extends the rule to all Nigerian visa categories.
In July, the US also reduced the validity of non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerians, restricting them to single entry and a three-month duration. According to the Mission, this move aligns with the Trump administration’s reciprocal non-immigrant visa framework, which has affected several nations. Visas issued before July 8, 2025, however, remain valid until expiration.
The State Department insists these changes are intended to “protect the integrity of the US immigration system.”
President Trump, who resumed office on January 20, 2025, has consistently pledged a large-scale deportation campaign targeting what he called “criminal aliens.” Since then, mass raids have been conducted across schools, workplaces, and shopping centres, leading to deportations to countries such as India and Guatemala.
The immigration crackdown has drawn divided reactions — praised by some who see it as a security measure, but condemned by critics as discriminatory and disruptive.
Nigeria remains the largest source of African migration to the US, with an estimated 376,000 Nigerians residing there as of 2015. Nigerian migrants also contribute significantly to their home country’s economy, sending more than $20 billion in annual remittances, according to World Bank figures from 2023.
For many Nigerian youths and middle-class families, the United States continues to be one of the most desired destinations for education, work opportunities, and a better quality of life.
