US Tightens Visa Rules for Nigerians

US Tightens Visa Rules

In a move that is causing diplomatic ripples, the United States has implemented stricter visa requirements for Nigerian applicants, requiring full disclosure of their social media activity over the past five years. This policy, aimed at enhancing national security, could result in outright visa denials for those who do not comply and may even prevent future entry into the US. The Federal Government of Nigeria, not one to sit idly by, has quickly promised reciprocal actions, ensuring American visitors face similar hurdles when applying for Nigerian visas.

The announcement was made through the US Mission in Nigeria's official X account, stressing that applicants must list all usernames, handles, emails, and phone numbers linked to their online presence on the DS-160 form. This isn't only about one platform; if you've managed multiple accounts or apps over the past five years, all relevant information needs to be disclosed. "Omitting social media information on your application could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future U.S. visas," the Mission warned, highlighting the serious stakes involved.

This expansion builds on previous rules for international students, which already required removing privacy settings for vetting purposes. Under the Trump administration's broader immigration tightening, the focus is clear: protecting US borders by thoroughly screening potential risks through comprehensive background checks.

Reacting quickly, Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed awareness of the policy and hinted at reciprocal measures. "On things of this nature, the best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action," he stated. This means US citizens planning to visit Nigeria could soon be asked to share their digital footprints as well.

To chart the course ahead, the FG plans an inter-agency meeting involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, as well as the National Intelligence Agency. "The stakeholders that are involved will have a meeting and agree on our best way to respond to it holistically," Ebienfa added. This comes amid a series of US restrictions on Nigerian visas, including recent limits to single-entry, three-month validity for most non-immigrant categories, citing overstay concerns.

The visa policy is not isolated. The US State Department has revoked over 6,000 student visas since Secretary of State Marco Rubio took office seven months ago, using an obscure law to target individuals considered contrary to US foreign policy interests. A State Department official disclosed that about 4,000 of these were due to legal violations such as assault, DUI, burglary, and even support for terrorism, with a particular focus on overstays.

Rubio has been outspoken about his aggressive stance, especially against activist students protesting issues like Israel policy, calling some of them "lunatics" and revoking visas regularly. High-profile cases, such as those of Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, have involved judicial interventions, emphasizing tensions over free speech for non-citizens. Meanwhile, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing a new 'Good Moral Character' policy for naturalization, extending beyond criminal checks to include assessments of daily life, community involvement, and compliance with norms like steady employment, paying taxes, and volunteering.

Meanwhile, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing a new 'Good Moral Character' policy for naturalization, extending beyond criminal background checks to assess daily life, community involvement, and compliance with norms like consistent employment, paying taxes, and volunteering.

These developments reflect the Trump administration's push for strict immigration controls, but they have sparked debates on fairness and diplomacy. As Nigeria prepares its response, travelers on both sides should expect more scrutiny in an increasingly connected yet cautious world. Stay informed as this story evolves, since visa policies can change quickly.