The United States government has directed Nigerian visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts and online activities spanning the last five years, cautioning that non-compliance could lead to visa denial. Reacting swiftly, the Federal Government vowed to reciprocate the new U.S. visa policy with equivalent measures. In a statement released yesterday via its official X handle, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria warned that applicants who fail to comply may also be barred from future entry into the country. The updated visa guideline builds on an earlier policy that applied primarily to international students, requiring them to provide their social media details and disable privacy restrictions to allow thorough vetting. The Mission explained that the regulation forms part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration tightening efforts aimed at strengthening “national security.” Under the new rule, visa applicants must now provide details such as email addresses, usernames, handles, and telephone numbers linked to all social media platforms and applications used within the past five years. Applicants who operated multiple accounts, usernames, handles, or phone numbers on a single platform during the same period are also required to disclose them in the DS-160 form. “Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. “Omitting social media information on your application could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future U.S visas. “Enter information associated with your online presence, including the types of online providers\platforms, applications and websites that you use to collaborate, share information and interact with others. List the username, handle, screen name and other identifiers associated with your social media profile,” the Mission said.