In a transfer that considerably will increase the scrutiny of visa candidates, the U.S. Division of State introduced a brand new requirement efficient June 18, 2025, for all F, M, and J visa candidates—largely college students and alternate guests.
Based on this coverage, candidates should listing all social media usernames they’ve used up to now 5 years on their visa software (Kind DS-160) and guarantee their accounts are set to public. This isn’t only a formality; U.S. consular officers will actively evaluate the total digital footprint of candidates throughout the vetting course of.
This contains scanning social media platforms, operating search engine checks, and utilizing instruments like LexisNexis to seek for further on-line data. This modification displays the U.S. authorities’s intent to conduct what they name “complete and thorough vetting” of overseas nationals earlier than granting entry into the nation.
These digital checks at the moment are a core a part of evaluating whether or not an applicant poses a nationwide safety menace or is more likely to violate immigration legal guidelines.
See 11 beautiful minimalist wedding ceremony attire from luxe silk to budget-friendly leases, excellent for brides who love easy, elegant designs.
Uncover one of the best Android telephones below ₦100,000 in Nigeria. Discover trendy, high-performing smartphones that suit your funds and life-style.
)
Whereas the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max have equal efficiency charges and promise six to eight years of updates, there’s extra that units each telephones aside.
)
Beneath the brand new guidelines, visa candidates should make all their social media profiles public throughout the screening course of. Any makes an attempt to cover, delete, or make accounts non-public could also be seen as suspicious or evasive.
ALSO READ: US visa policy for Nigerians just changed — here’s what it means and why
Moreover, candidates should present all social media handles used over the previous 5 years, not simply these at the moment in use. These modifications enable the consular officers to watch patterns in behaviour, beliefs, or affiliations that may not seem on conventional software paperwork.
The reasoning behind this shift is tied to elevated issues about terrorism, extremism, and antisemitism. U.S. immigration companies now regard social media as a legitimate reflection of somebody’s character, beliefs, and potential threats.
Posts that after might have been seen as private or expressive at the moment are getting used as proof throughout visa determinations. The Division of Homeland Safety and the Division of State are significantly centered on candidates who might promote violent ideologies, present hostility towards the U.S. authorities, or show antisemitic behaviour on-line.
RELATED: Nigeria, US move to ease visa tensions after high-level meeting
7 Social Media Posts That Might Break Your U.S. Visa Probabilities
Listed here are a few of the commonest purple flags that may trigger a visa software to be denied based mostly in your social media exercise:
1. Terrorism Or Extremist Assist
Any publish, remark, like, or shared content material that helps or promotes terrorist teams akin to ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, or Hezbollah might be grounds for rapid denial. Even seemingly minor engagement with these matters is flagged.
2. Violent Political Content material
Expressing or supporting political violence, revolution, or militant resistance, whether or not in your nation or overseas, might counsel that you are a menace to U.S. safety or public order.
3. Hostility Towards The U.S. Authorities Or Tradition
Posts that present hatred or aggression towards American legal guidelines, leaders, or values can point out that you just’re not more likely to respect U.S. norms and may abuse your visa.
YOU MIGHT LIKE: Top 4 countries most likely to be denied visa in 2025 – Nigeria is on the list
4. Antisemitic Or Hate Speech
Latest reviews present that consular officers at the moment are instructed to disclaim visas based mostly on indicators of antisemitism discovered on-line. Posts that joke about or goal Jewish folks, Holocaust denial, or conspiracy theories round Israel or Jewish affect could possibly be interpreted as inciting hate.
5. Felony Behaviour Or Affiliations
Photographs or posts exhibiting criminal activity like drug use, weapon dealing with, or affiliation with gangs might be interpreted as proof of poor ethical character or a prison historical past.
6. Faux, Clean, Or Personal Profiles
Having no on-line footprint or submitting faux usernames can result in suspicion. Consular officers are skilled to query such inconsistencies or the absence of any digital historical past.
7. Disrespect For Immigration Legal guidelines
In case your social media exercise exhibits any plans to overstay a visa, work illegally, or misuse pupil or vacationer visas, this could additionally lead to rejection.
Even when your intentions are harmless, content material taken out of context, akin to jokes, memes, or sarcasm, could also be misinterpret. Due to this, seemingly small issues like liking a controversial publish or sharing a political opinion might delay or derail your software.
RECOMMENDED: Meet the company making MILLIONS from your visa applications
What You Ought to Do Earlier than Making use of
Before submitting your visa application, it’s essential to audit your social media presence. Undergo all of your public posts, photographs, and feedback throughout platforms like Instagram, Fb, TikTok, X (previously Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Delete something that could possibly be seen as controversial, inflammatory, or illegal. Keep away from posting something political or aggressive, particularly associated to U.S. insurance policies, faith, or race. Nevertheless, keep away from deleting your accounts completely.
Having no presence or instantly eradicating all of your posts can elevate purple flags. As an alternative, clear up your profiles whereas sustaining transparency. Keep in mind to listing each platform you’ve used within the final 5 years actually, even in the event you hardly ever used them. Dishonesty or omissions could possibly be seen as grounds for denial.
Within the digital age, your on-line presence is simply as essential as your software types and supporting paperwork. What you publish, like, and observe on social media can and can be used to evaluate your eligibility for a U.S. visa.
