The United States is introducing new vetting measures for international students and exchange visitors, including Nigerians, requiring applicants for nonimmigrant visas to make their social media profiles publicly accessible, according the US Department of State.
“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’,” the State Department says in the statement.
The new directive, which applies to students (F visas), vocational or technical students (M visas), and exchange visitors (J visas), is part of a broader push by the U.S. government to reinforce national security during the visa issuance process.
“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 statement says.
The department says it will conduct “a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants” under the new guidance.
Visa appointments to resume
The U.S. says its overseas posts will soon begin scheduling visa appointments for affected categories. “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,” the State Department says.
According to the department, every visa decision is grounded in national security. “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,” the statement says.
The department also requires 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 new rules are likely to impact a large number of Nigerian students who make up one of the largest African populations studying in the United States. According to ICEF Monitor’s April 10 analysis of SEVIS data by Chris Glass, total foreign-student numbers in the United States fell 11 percent between March 2024 and March 2025, reversing much of the post-pandemic recovery. Nigerian enrolments, which had grown by 13.5 percent in the 2023–24 academic year, dropped 16 percent over the same period.
The new vetting policy follows global security concerns about digital footprints and online affiliations, particularly as social media becomes a key part of identity verification in border and immigration controls.
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