For F, M, and J non-immigrant visas, the US embassy in Nigeria has requested that all applicants change their social media privacy settings to public.
Those who wish to study or take part in academic and vocational exchange programs in the United States must abide by the guideline, which is posted on the embassy’s official website.
The J visa is applicable to exchange visitor programs, the M visa is for vocational study, and the F visa is for academic study.
According to the notice, the action is a component of improved vetting processes designed to confirm applicants’ identities and legal admissibility in the United States.
On June 9, 2025, a presidential proclamation on national security went into effect, and the instruction is linked to its implementation.
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The notice states, “With immediate effect, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to set the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ in order to facilitate the vetting required to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.”
In accordance with 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, the United States is restricting or suspending entry and issuing visas to citizens of specific nations as of June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time.
“Applicants who are subject to this Presidential Proclamation may still apply for visas and show up for their scheduled interviews, but they may not be authorized to enter the United States or receive a visa.”
According to a statement released by the US Department of State in June, it analyzes all available data in its visa screening and vetting process to identify applicants who are inadmissible to the country, including those who could endanger national security.
Every student and exchange visitor candidate in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications will undergo a “thorough” screening, including an online presence, according to the department’s new guidelines.
According to the letter, “all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public’ in order to facilitate this vetting.”
Each and every visa decision is based on national security considerations. The United States must exercise caution when issuing visas to make sure that those seeking entry into the country have no malicious intent against Americans or our national interests. Additionally, all applicants must be able to prove their eligibility for the desired visa, including that they plan to participate in activities that align with the conditions of their admission.
It is anticipated that many Nigerian professionals and students looking for academic and exchange opportunities in the US will be impacted by the legislation.
