By Ghazali Ibrahim
The United States government has introduced a new requirement mandating that visa applicants, particularly those applying for student and exchange programs (F, M, and J visas), make their social media accounts public as part of the screening process.
According to the U.S. State Department, applicants must now disclose all social media handles used within the past five years and ensure their profiles are set to public visibility during the visa vetting process.
The policy applies globally and affects both first-time applicants and those seeking visa renewals.
The directive follows a recent resumption of visa interview scheduling and is part of broader efforts to enhance national security by using social media activity as an additional layer of background verification.
The requirement has already been communicated to several embassies and consulates worldwide, including those in Nigeria, India, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia.
It is expected to apply to applicants from all countries seeking entry to the U.S. under non-immigrant visa categories affected.
Failure to comply with the requirement or provide complete and truthful information may result in visa denial or future ineligibility.
The policy is currently in effect and will be applied to all relevant applications moving forward.
