The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has revealed that visa applicants must now provide all social media handles they’ve used in the past five years.
This directive is part of the U.S. Department of State’s efforts to enhance national security and is a key requirement on the DS-160 visa application form.
The embassy warns that failing to provide this information can result in a visa denial and could make an applicant ineligible for future visas.
However, the Nigerian government in a swift reaction, said it will reciprocate the new US visa policy with equal measures. It stressed that US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.
This new social media requirement is one of six requirements for Nigerian visa applicants.
Below is the 6 requirements
1. Matching DS-160 Confirmation Number: Applicants must ensure the barcode on their DS-160 form matches the one used to schedule their appointment. Mismatched numbers will result in not being allowed into the consular section for the interview.
2. Correct Appointment Location: Interviews must be attended at the same location (Abuja or Lagos) that was selected on the DS-160 form.
3. Double-Check Your DS-160: Applicants should verify their DS-160 barcode number against their appointment confirmation at least two weeks before their interview. Forms from previous applications should not be reused.
4. Fixing an Incorrect Barcode: If the barcode is wrong, applicants must log in to their AVITS account at least 10 days before their interview and create a support ticket to get it corrected.
5. Rescheduling After Rejection: If an applicant is turned away due to a mismatched barcode, they must correct the issue and then book a new appointment. A new visa fee may be required if the previous one has expired.
6. All Social Media Usernames and Handles: As the new directive states, applicants must list all social media usernames and handles they’ve used in the past five years on the DS-160 application form.
