US Announces Very Important Requirement All Visa Applicants Must Include

US Announces Very Important Requirement All Visa Applicants Must Include

  • The US Mission in Nigeria announced that visa applicants must disclose all social media usernames used in the past five years on the DS-160 form
  • It cautioned that failure to provide complete information could have led to visa denials and future ineligibility
  • The US Department of State said the requirement formed part of efforts to strengthen national security through enhanced screening

The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced a new requirement for all visa applicants, mandating the disclosure of social media usernames and handles used in the past five years.

The Mission explained that the directive follows the US Department of State’s renewed commitment to strengthen national security through enhanced screening measures.

The US releases a new and crucial requirement for all visa applicants.
A new and significant requirement for all visa applicants is announced by the United States. Photo credit: Andrew Harnik/Nurphotos
Source: Twitter

This was revealed in a statement posted on its official X account on Monday, August 18.

Requirement applies to DS-160 form

According to the Mission, applicants are now expected to provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form.

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The statement read:

“Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form.”

US visa: Warning over incomplete information

US warns over incomplete appliction information.
US cautions applicants against submitting incomplete information. Photo credit: Chip Somadevilla
Source: Getty Images

The Mission cautioned that failing to provide the information could have serious consequences, including visa denial and disqualification from future applications.

It added:

“Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.”

Move to tighten national security

The US Department of State has consistently stressed that the policy is part of wider efforts to improve vetting procedures and safeguard national security.

US embassy speaks on immigrant application

The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has announced a new requirement for immigrant visa applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025.

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The immigrant visa process demands at least two visits to the Consulate General—an unyielding requirement designed to ensure every detail is meticulously scrutinised, every step carefully calibrated.

The first visit involves an In-Person Document Review with a consular staff member. This mandatory review ensures that applicants are prepared for their visa interview by allowing them to retrieve any missing documents in advance.

The Consular Section will notify applicants via email about the document review appointment date, which will be scheduled approximately two to four weeks before the visa interview. No separate appointment is necessary for this review.

US plane suddenly catches fire in scary incident

Previously, Legit.ng reported that passengers of American Airlines, one of the world’s busiest carriers, were forced to evacuate a plane at Denver International Airport after the landing gear caught fire shortly before takeoff.

American Airlines Flight 3023 was set to depart for Miami International Airport when it encountered “a mechanical issue involving an aircraft tyre and flames”.

There were 173 passengers and six crew members on board the aircraft when the incident occurred at around 2:45 p.m. local time.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ezra Ukanwa avatar

Ezra Ukanwa (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944

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