US Embassy Now Requires Kenyan Visa Applicants to Submit Social Media Handles
The United States Embassy in Nairobi has introduced a new requirement for Kenyans seeking U.S. Visas: applicants must now provide usernames or handles for all their social media accounts across every platform.
According to a statement issued by the embassy on Friday, these social media details covering activity from the past five years must be included in the DS-160 Visa application form.
The DS-160 Visa allows individuals to travel temporarily to the U.S. for purposes such as tourism, business, education, or medical care.
In June 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced stricter screening and vetting procedures aimed at preventing illegal immigration. As part of these measures, Visa applicants who have set their social media profiles to private are required to change them to public to enable thorough evaluation of their suitability for entry into the country.
“The State Department is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” read a statement then.
“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. Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications.”
Tags: Us Embassy Visa
