Visa applicants must now submit social media handles used in past five years or risk denial - US Embassy
Omitting social media information on your application could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future US visas.
Kenyans and other foreign nationals applying for United States visas must now provide a full list of all social media handles used in the past five years, the US Embassy has announced.
The directive applies to the DS-160 visa application form and affects both regular and student visa applicants, as part of tougher vetting procedures meant to improve security and transparency.
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According to a statement from the US Embassy, “Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit.”
The Embassy further cautioned that failure to disclose this information could have serious consequences.
“Omitting social media information on your application could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future US visas,” the statement warned.
The new measure is part of broader interagency efforts by the US government to curb fraud and illegal immigration.
Just days ago, the embassy underscored Washington’s renewed commitment to prosecuting individuals involved in visa scams and those aiding illegal entry into the US.
“We will pursue criminal charges against those who engage in visa fraud and those who bring in and harbour illegal aliens,” read the statement, adding that “a nation without borders is not a nation.”
Although social media screening for visa applicants has been in place since 2019, recent changes reflect increased scrutiny.
The policy is seen by many observers as a continuation of the Trump-era immigration strategy, which introduced aggressive enforcement measures, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and online monitoring of visa applicants.
The Embassy confirmed that applicants are now subject to review of their online activity, including comments, shared content, reactions, tags, and account interactions, across all platforms they may have used in the past five years.
This development follows rising concerns among rights groups and privacy advocates, who argue that such measures could lead to applicants being judged based on personal beliefs or political opinions.
However, US officials insist the policy is a necessary step to strengthen immigration controls and national security.
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