Modupe Olalere
On June 14, 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced a new visa policy. As part of the screening process for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas, Nigerian students must provide access to their social media accounts. Applicants will need to provide their social media usernames from the last five years. This will let consular officers examine both public and private online content before issuing visas.
Nigerian students and immigration experts are concerned about the policy, which strengthens U.S. national security. This article discusses how social media vetting affects Nigerian students’ goals and privacy, freedom of expression, self-censorship, and visa denials.
Nigerian students’ U.S. visa application process changed significantly after the announcement. The US Mission in Nigeria says, “Every visa decision is essentially a matter of national security,” highlighting that this stricter screening process aims to keep out individuals who could pose security threats to the country. The new guidelines require applicants to provide usernames and handles for social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter (now X), Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, among others.
This new policy has increased the level of uncertainty and anxiety for many Nigerian students. Approximately 20,000 Nigerian students were enrolled in American universities in 2024, making the United States the most popular destination for African students seeking higher education. Studying in the United States represents opportunity, hope, and a path to better job prospects. Students are concerned about how their online presence may affect their chances because the social media vetting requirement has complicated the visa application process.
Take Owolabi, for instance. He’s a 23-year-old student from Nigeria who just got accepted into a master’s program in cybersecurity at the University of New Haven. He opened up his worries: “I have been deleting tweets and comments that might be seen as critical of the U.S. or its policies. It feels like I’m being watched all the time. I’m afraid that something I said years ago could ruin my chance.” Owolabi’s experience reflects a growing trend among Nigerian students who are now carefully curating their digital footprints to avoid potential visa rejection.
U.S. Embassy policy heavily influences when and how visa appointments are scheduled. The new social media account disclosure requirement is causing delays and much annoyance for students, resulting in longer visa processing times. Those hoping to start their academic journey this autumn semester are experiencing emotional and financial stress due to unexpected postponements.
The social media disclosure requirement among Nigerian applicants has raised serious privacy concerns. Many people fear that their right to privacy and freedom of expression are being violated by the invasive scrutiny of their private lives. Advocates for digital rights have criticised this policy for producing a “chilling effect,” in which students are reluctant to participate in social movements, express political opinions, or even share their personal beliefs online for fear that it will negatively impact their visa application.
Nigerian students are now in a difficult situation where they want to express their opinions freely, but are also concerned about how U.S. visa officers might interpret their statements. As a result of this circumstance, they are widely self-censoring. Owolabi explained, “I used to be active on Twitter, discussing Nigerian politics and social issues. Now, I avoid posting anything political or controversial. It’s like I’m censoring myself to fit into a mold.”
Beyond public posts, self-censorship occurs. Some students have deleted private texts, images, and videos to avoid misinterpretation. Many students feel their digital lives are no longer theirs due to the pressure to present a sanitised online presence.
Migration lawyers in Nigeria are concerned about the unclear standards used to examine social media postings. Immigration attorney Amina Yusuf in Lagos says, “There is no clear guideline on what kind of posts or interactions might lead to visa denial. This ambiguity causes anxiety for applicants because they don’t know what to avoid. It also raises questions about fairness and transparency in the visa adjudication process.”
Yusuf also noted that the regulation disproportionately affects students from Nigeria, where social media is crucial for political participation and social engagement. “Many Nigerian youths use social media to raise awareness and advocate for change. The fear of visa denial may discourage them from participating in these important conversations,” she said.
Real-Life Cases: Visa Denials and Emotional Toll on Nigerian Applicants
The social media vetting policy has affected Nigerian students and professionals. In some situations, travellers have been denied visas due to online activity.
One instance involved a Nigerian businesswoman attending a conference in the United States on a B1-B2 visa. Upon arrival, immigration officers looked through her client’s texts and Instagram. Her internet activity exceeded her intended travel destination, so she was refused entry. She was detained for 24 hours and subjected to intense interrogation before being sent back to Nigeria.
This startled Nigerian businesspeople and raised questions about the unpredictable nature of social media vetting. After making significant financial investments, many Nigerian students have had their visas denied. A young woman who had sold her belongings and paid for a semester’s tuition was devastated when her visa application was rejected. She posted on social media that the rejection destroyed her family’s finances and her education.
A Nigerian woman spent millions of naira on visa application costs, medical exams, and trip plans, but she was turned away when she reached the U.S. border. Her story spread quickly on social media, and people started asking the U.S. Embassy to set up a reimbursement procedure for people who don’t get their visas. Many Nigerians were angry because the visa process wasn’t clear or accountable.
These events show how important checking out people on social media is. Visa denials hurt applicants’ mental health, career goals, and family support systems, which causes a lot of stress. Students already going through strict application processes are stressed out because they don’t know what might cause them to be rejected.
U.S. diplomats in Nigeria say the strategy is essential for security. The US Embassy spokeswoman said, “The social media screening is part of a broader effort to ensure that individuals entering the United States do not pose risks. We understand the concerns raised, but national security remains our top priority.” But immigration experts say that the policy needs to be calibrated with respect for privacy and free speech. They want clearer rules about what kinds of content might get you disqualified and more openness in the process of deciding.
Dr. Chinedu Okafor, a Nigerian immigration scholar, noted, “While security is important, the current approach risks alienating talented students who contribute positively to U.S. campuses and society. There should be safeguards to protect applicants’ rights and to prevent arbitrary decisions based on misunderstood social media content.”
Nigerian students are taking various visa-protection measures in reaction to the scrutiny procedure. Many create new social media accounts with restricted material or switch their profiles to private, despite the regulation requiring access. Others shun political and sensitive themes.
To help applicants promote themselves online, student groups and education experts are conducting “digital hygiene” training. These seminars encourage students to consider their digital footprint, review their posts, and remove any harmful content.
Even with these efforts, the pressure to project an idealised online persona can be emotionally taxing. Even harmless or humorous posts could be misinterpreted, which worries students. Social media vetting has changed the way many Nigerian students think about studying in the U.S. They have to find a balance between being open and careful about what they say.
The U.S. social media vetting strategy for Nigerian student visa applicants is a difficult national security-individual rights issue. Nigerian students’ online lives and educational goals are influenced in new ways, raising problems about privacy, freedom, and the cost of opportunity in the digital age.