The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has issued a new directive requiring all Kenyans applying for a U.S. Visa to disclose all their social media accounts used within the last five years.
In a statement released on Friday, July 25, the embassy clarified that the directive applies to all applicants filling out the DS-160 Visa application form, which is used to apply for temporary travel to the United States—including for tourism, business, study, and medical purposes.
“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,” the U.S. Embassy stated.
“Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit.”
The embassy further warned that omitting or providing false information about one’s social media presence could lead to visa denial or future ineligibility for U.S. travel documents.
The move is part of enhanced national security screening measures aimed at tightening immigration processes and protecting American public interests.
Accounts Must Be Public
In June 2025, the U.S. Department of State revised its visa vetting process, requiring that Visa applicants who have set their social media accounts to private must make them public for the duration of the application review. This allows immigration officers to conduct comprehensive background checks, including analysis of online behavior and affiliations.
“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 U.S. State Department said in a prior notice.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.”
The new measures particularly affect student and exchange visitor visa applicants, including those applying under the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications. These categories typically cover international students, trainees, research scholars, and exchange program participants.
Part of Broader Immigration Crackdown
The directive follows a series of policy reforms initiated under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which pushed for stricter immigration enforcement and surveillance. Though President Trump completed his term in January 2025, many of his immigration policies have continued into the new administration with minimal rollback.
The embassy’s statement emphasized that applicants must take personal responsibility for accuracy and transparency in their applications:
“Failure to provide full and accurate information may be considered misrepresentation and could render an applicant ineligible for a visa.”
Kenyan citizens planning to travel to the U.S. are now advised to review their social media history, ensure they maintain appropriate content visibility, and accurately list all usernames used across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, and Snapchat, among others.
