Nigerian content creator and online streamer Carter Efe is racing against time to secure a United States visa after gaining admission into American streamer Kai Cenat’s Streamer University, a program he was selected for in early July.
In a video that quickly spread across social media on July 13, Carter Efe asked Nigerians to help him reach Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, regarding his stalled visa application. He said in the video that he had secured a spot in the program but had not yet received approval to travel.
“I got admission into Kai Cenat Streamers University, but I still don’t have a US visa,” Carter Efe said, urging his followers to tag Seyi Tinubu on the matter.
The appeal drew swift criticism online. A Canada-based Nigerian doctor identified as Doctor Zo, on July 14, cautioned Carter Efe to take the video down without delay. Zo said American immigration officers now examine applicants’ social media activity closely and could read the video as a sign that Carter Efe does not intend to return to Nigeria after his trip. He added that Seyi Tinubu holds no authority over the consular officer reviewing the case at the US Embassy in Nigeria.
“Seyi Tinubu has no influence over the visa officer at the US Embassy in Nigeria,” Zo said, while describing Carter Efe as “a good guy” and expressing hope that his application would still succeed.
Some users agreed with the doctor’s assessment. One commenter, Henrietta Banji, wrote that the United States takes social media checks seriously, unlike processes in Nigeria. Another user said the episode is a habit in Nigeria, where people seek personal connections to solve problems that are handled through formal institutions elsewhere.
Others defended Carter Efe or questioned the criticism directed at him. A fan argued that the skit maker’s public antics have long entertained Nigerians and did not warrant mockery. A separate comment from Zoe Dorren suggested Carter Efe tends to turn every personal situation into content, whether the outcome is favorable or not.
Carter Efe’s visa troubles come months after he received a German visa as part of his winnings following a celebrity boxing victory over fellow entertainer Portable in Lagos in May 2026, a fight that earned him 50 million naira from businessman E-Money.
Social media screening of US visa applicants has expanded significantly over the past year. The State Department began requiring an online presence review for F, M, and J category applicants in June 2025, extended the policy to H-1B workers and their dependents in December 2025, and, on March 30, 2026, added more than a dozen additional visa categories to the same requirement. Consular officers now have wide discretion to review applicants’ public posts, photos, and online activity as part of their assessment, and unresolved discrepancies between an applicant’s online presence and their stated travel intentions can affect the outcome of a visa application.
As of July 14, 2026, Carter Efe’s visa application remains pending, and no official statement has been issued by the US Embassy in Nigeria or by Kai Cenat’s Streamer University regarding his participation.
