The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has announced that all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas, which cover international students and exchange visitors, must now set their personal social media profiles to public as part of a new visa vetting requirement.

The directive is effective immediately, according to an update posted by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria on its official Instagram page on Monday.

“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to ‘public,’” the post read.

According to the embassy post, the change is meant to support vetting efforts aimed at confirming applicants’ identities and determining their eligibility to enter the United States.

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the embassy said.

Since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms, the embassy added.

F, M, and J are nonimmigrant visa types for individuals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs in the United States. The F visa is for academic studies, the M visa is for vocational or non-academic studies, and the J visa is for exchange visitor programs.

The updated policy follows a June 18 statement from the U.S. Department of State, which confirmed that all F, M, and J visa applicants will now be subject to a full review of their online presence, including social media.

The U.S. Department of State stated, “The State Department is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.

“We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security. Under 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 nonimmigrant classifications.

“To facilitate this vetting, 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.”

“Our overseas posts will resume scheduling F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa applications soon. Applicants should check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability.

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.” (The Guardian)