Social media is becoming the new passport in U.S. visa applications

Applying for a U.S. visa has never been simple, but lately, it feels like it’s edging closer to a digital background check than a travel form. 

In Nigeria, the U.S. Mission recently announced that all applicants are now required to provide the usernames of every social media account they’ve used in the last five years. That’s not just your Instagram or Twitter handle from today, it’s everything, even your forgotten accounts.

This requirement isn’t happening in isolation. It's part of a broader U.S. visa tightening strategy that puts social media at the core of identity checks. The DS-160 form, used by millions for temporary travel, now acts like a digital profile, with applicants asked to loosen privacy settings for screening, making your online persona as critical as financial or academic proof.

The rationale is national security; they always say it is; I'm not surprised. Social media, with its clumsy shitposts and casual rants, is being treated as a window into applicants’ intentions and associations. But the problem with this is that digital traces are messy, and context is easy to misinterpret. A sarcastic tweet, a political meme, or even the wrong kind of follower could unfairly tip the balance against someone who’s otherwise qualified.

Nigeria is likely going to be more affected than most countries, seeing as it already faces single-entry, three-month visa limits under U.S. “reciprocity” policies. Beyond Nigeria, though, this strict scrutiny has extended across Africa. Countries like Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Malawi have seen their citizens face higher barriers, from shorter visa duration to costly travel bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. 

The effects ripple beyond policy circles. Nigeria, for example, remains the seventh largest source of international students in the U.S. according to the 2024 Open Doors report, with enrollment up 13.5% in just a year. But these students now navigate an obstacle course where a misplaced detail on a social media profile could ruin years of planning. 

The internet is already a stage where people curate, exaggerate, and role-play, and to hold those performances as the absolute truth about who someone is seems flawed. For now, certainly, the U.S. visa process is no longer just about paperwork. It’s about your posts, your likes, and your digital past.

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TechloyOgbonda Chivumnovu