diff --git a/app/api/auth/github/route.js b/app/api/auth/github/route.js
index 3fc0106..7030bf3 100644
--- a/app/api/auth/github/route.js
+++ b/app/api/auth/github/route.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { buildGitHubAuthorizationUrl } from '../../../../lib/github-oauth.js';
 
 const GITHUB_CLIENT_ID = process.env.GITHUB_CLIENT_ID;
 
-export async function GET() {
+export async function GET(request) {
   if (!GITHUB_CLIENT_ID) {
     return NextResponse.json(
       { error: 'GitHub OAuth is not configured' },
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@ export async function GET() {
     );
   }
 
-  return NextResponse.redirect(buildGitHubAuthorizationUrl(GITHUB_CLIENT_ID));
+  const login = new URL(request.url).searchParams.get('login') || '';
+  return NextResponse.redirect(buildGitHubAuthorizationUrl(GITHUB_CLIENT_ID, login));
 }
diff --git a/app/page.jsx b/app/page.jsx
index c9e6310..2a3075b 100644
--- a/app/page.jsx
+++ b/app/page.jsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import { enrichWithCollaborators } from '../lib/collaboration.js';
 import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';
 
 const Globe = dynamic(() => import('../components/Globe.jsx'), { ssr: false });
+const PENDING_CLAIM_KEY = 'devglobe-pending-claim';
 
 export default function Home() {
   const [developers, setDevelopers] = useState([]);
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export default function Home() {
   const [cardRequest, setCardRequest] = useState(0);
   const [cardContext, setCardContext] = useState(null);
   const [showAddMe, setShowAddMe] = useState(false);
+  const [verificationUsername, setVerificationUsername] = useState('');
   const [showClaimPending, setShowClaimPending] = useState(false);
   const [showAiProfile, setShowAiProfile] = useState(false);
   const [showIntroductions, setShowIntroductions] = useState(false);
@@ -118,7 +120,7 @@ export default function Home() {
           setCardRequest(0);
           setShowClaimPending(true);
           setSidebarOpen(false);
-          return;
+          return { ok: false, ...result };
         }
         setClaimStatus('claimed');
         setClaimedLogins(prev => new Set(prev).add(user.login));
@@ -152,15 +154,34 @@ export default function Home() {
         setCardContext('claim');
         setCardRequest(request => request + 1);
         setSidebarOpen(false);
+        return { ok: true, ...result };
       } else {
         const data = await res.json();
         console.error('Claim failed:', data.error);
+        return { ok: false, ...data };
       }
     } catch (err) {
       console.error('Claim error:', err);
+      return { ok: false, error: err.message };
     }
   }, [user, developers]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!user) return;
+    let pendingUsername = '';
+    try { pendingUsername = localStorage.getItem(PENDING_CLAIM_KEY) || ''; } catch { return; }
+    if (!pendingUsername) return;
+
+    if (pendingUsername.toLowerCase() !== user.login.toLowerCase()) {
+      setVerificationUsername(pendingUsername);
+      setShowAddMe(true);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    localStorage.removeItem(PENDING_CLAIM_KEY);
+    void handleClaim();
+  }, [user, handleClaim]);
+
   const handleToggleTheme = useCallback(() => {
     setTheme(prev => {
       const next = prev === 'dark' ? 'light' : 'dark';
@@ -369,6 +390,7 @@ export default function Home() {
   }, []);
 
   const handleAddMe = useCallback(() => {
+    setVerificationUsername('');
     setShowAddMe(true);
   }, []);
 
@@ -490,7 +512,14 @@ export default function Home() {
         {compareDevs.length === 2 && (
           <ComparePanel devs={compareDevs} onClose={handleCloseCompare} />
         )}
-        {showAddMe && <AddMeModal onClose={handleCloseAddMe} />}
+        {showAddMe && (
+          <AddMeModal
+            onClose={handleCloseAddMe}
+            user={user}
+            onVerify={handleClaim}
+            verificationUsername={verificationUsername}
+          />
+        )}
         {showClaimPending && <ClaimStatusModal onClose={() => setShowClaimPending(false)} />}
         {showAiProfile && (
           <AiProfileModal
diff --git a/components/AddMeModal.jsx b/components/AddMeModal.jsx
index 7372180..c5d8cb9 100644
--- a/components/AddMeModal.jsx
+++ b/components/AddMeModal.jsx
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import styles from './AddMeModal.module.css';
 
-const SUCCESS_MESSAGE = "Your profile is pending review. We'll email you when it is approved and visible on the globe, usually within a week.";
+const PENDING_CLAIM_KEY = 'devglobe-pending-claim';
 
-export default function AddMeModal({ onClose }) {
-  const [username, setUsername] = useState('');
+export default function AddMeModal({ onClose, user, onVerify, verificationUsername = '' }) {
+  const [username, setUsername] = useState(verificationUsername);
   const [location, setLocation] = useState('');
   const [email, setEmail] = useState('');
   const [emailConsent, setEmailConsent] = useState(false);
-  const [status, setStatus] = useState('idle'); // idle | submitting | success | error
+  const [status, setStatus] = useState(verificationUsername ? 'success' : 'idle'); // idle | submitting | success | verifying | error
   const [error, setError] = useState('');
   const inputRef = useRef(null);
+  const normalizedUsername = username.trim().replace(/^@/, '');
+  const identityMatches = user?.login?.toLowerCase() === normalizedUsername.toLowerCase();
 
   useEffect(() => {
     inputRef.current?.focus();
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ export default function AddMeModal({ onClose }) {
         setError(data.error || 'Something went wrong. Please try again.');
         return;
       }
+      setUsername(data.username || clean);
       setStatus('success');
     } catch (err) {
       setStatus('error');
@@ -63,6 +66,30 @@ export default function AddMeModal({ onClose }) {
     }
   };
 
+  const handleVerify = async () => {
+    try {
+      localStorage.setItem(PENDING_CLAIM_KEY, normalizedUsername);
+    } catch { /* Continue with the current session when storage is unavailable. */ }
+
+    if (!user) {
+      window.location.assign(`/api/auth/github?login=${encodeURIComponent(normalizedUsername)}`);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (!identityMatches) return;
+
+    setStatus('verifying');
+    setError('');
+    const result = await onVerify();
+    if (!result?.ok) {
+      setStatus('success');
+      setError('We could not verify your profile. Please try again.');
+      return;
+    }
+    try { localStorage.removeItem(PENDING_CLAIM_KEY); } catch { /* Ignore storage cleanup failures. */ }
+    onClose();
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className={styles['modal-overlay']} onClick={onClose}>
       <div className={styles.modal} onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()} role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label="Add me to DevGlobe">
@@ -70,16 +97,46 @@ export default function AddMeModal({ onClose }) {
 
         {status === 'success' ? (
           <div className={styles['modal__success']}>
-            <div className={styles['modal__success-icon']}>🎉</div>
+            <div className={styles['modal__success-icon']} aria-hidden="true">
+              <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="30" height="30" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round">
+                <path d="M20 6 9 17l-5-5" />
+              </svg>
+            </div>
             <h2 className={styles['modal__title']}>Nomination received</h2>
-            <p className={styles['modal__message']}>{SUCCESS_MESSAGE}</p>
-            <button className="btn btn--primary" onClick={onClose} type="button">Done</button>
+            {user && !identityMatches ? (
+              <div className={styles['modal__identity-warning']} role="alert">
+                <strong>Sign in as @{normalizedUsername}</strong>
+                <span>You are currently signed in as @{user.login}. We will keep this nomination pending rather than verify the wrong account.</span>
+              </div>
+            ) : (
+              <p className={styles['modal__message']}>
+                Verify ownership of <strong>@{normalizedUsername}</strong> with GitHub to publish your profile now. Otherwise, it will remain in the review queue.
+              </p>
+            )}
+            {error && <div className={styles['modal__error']}>{error}</div>}
+            {(!user || identityMatches) && (
+              <button className={`btn btn--primary ${styles['modal__verify']}`} onClick={handleVerify} type="button">
+                <svg viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidden="true">
+                  <path d="M8 0C3.58 0 0 3.58 0 8c0 3.54 2.29 6.53 5.47 7.59.4.07.55-.17.55-.38 0-.19-.01-.82-.01-1.49-2.01.37-2.53-.49-2.69-.94-.09-.23-.48-.94-.82-1.13-.28-.15-.68-.52-.01-.53.63-.01 1.08.58 1.23.82.72 1.21 1.87.87 2.33.66.07-.52.28-.87.51-1.07-1.78-.2-3.64-.89-3.64-3.95 0-.87.31-1.59.82-2.15-.08-.2-.36-1.02.08-2.12 0 0 .67-.21 2.2.82.64-.18 1.32-.27 2-.27.68 0 1.36.09 2 .27 1.53-1.04 2.2-.82 2.2-.82.44 1.1.16 1.92.08 2.12.51.56.82 1.27.82 2.15 0 3.07-1.87 3.75-3.65 3.95.29.25.54.73.54 1.48 0 1.07-.01 1.93-.01 2.2 0 .21.15.46.55.38A8.013 8.013 0 0016 8z" />
+                </svg>
+                Verify with GitHub
+              </button>
+            )}
+            <button className={styles['modal__later']} onClick={onClose} type="button">
+              {user && !identityMatches ? 'Close' : 'I will verify later'}
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        ) : status === 'verifying' ? (
+          <div className={styles['modal__success']} aria-live="polite">
+            <div className={styles['modal__spinner']} aria-hidden="true" />
+            <h2 className={styles['modal__title']}>Publishing your profile</h2>
+            <p className={styles['modal__message']}>Confirming your GitHub identity and adding you to the globe.</p>
           </div>
         ) : (
           <>
             <h2 className={styles['modal__title']}>Add me to DevGlobe</h2>
             <p className={styles['modal__subtitle']}>
-              Submit your GitHub username to be featured on the globe. We'll review and add you within a week.
+              Submit your profile, then verify with GitHub to publish instantly. Unverified nominations stay in the review queue.
             </p>
             <form className={styles['modal__form']} onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
               <label className={styles['modal__label']} htmlFor="nominate-username">
diff --git a/components/AddMeModal.module.css b/components/AddMeModal.module.css
index f9a308a..b49356d 100644
--- a/components/AddMeModal.module.css
+++ b/components/AddMeModal.module.css
@@ -147,7 +147,14 @@
 }
 
 .modal__success-icon {
-  font-size: 44px;
+  width: 52px;
+  height: 52px;
+  display: grid;
+  place-items: center;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  color: #34d399;
+  background: rgba(52, 211, 153, 0.12);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(52, 211, 153, 0.32);
 }
 
 .modal__success .modal__title {
@@ -159,3 +166,62 @@
   color: var(--text-secondary);
   line-height: 1.5;
 }
+
+.modal__message strong {
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+}
+
+.modal__identity-warning {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 5px;
+  width: 100%;
+  padding: 12px;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.4);
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  background: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.1);
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: 13px;
+  line-height: 1.45;
+  text-align: left;
+}
+
+.modal__identity-warning strong {
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+  font-size: 14px;
+}
+
+.modal__verify {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+  width: 100%;
+  min-height: 42px;
+}
+
+.modal__later {
+  border: 0;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 13px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.modal__later:hover {
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+}
+
+.modal__spinner {
+  width: 36px;
+  height: 36px;
+  border: 3px solid var(--border);
+  border-top-color: var(--accent-blue);
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  animation: modalSpin 0.8s linear infinite;
+}
+
+@keyframes modalSpin {
+  to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
+}
diff --git a/lib/github-oauth.js b/lib/github-oauth.js
index 409e209..e70b7e3 100644
--- a/lib/github-oauth.js
+++ b/lib/github-oauth.js
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
-export function buildGitHubAuthorizationUrl(clientId) {
+const GITHUB_LOGIN_RE = /^[a-z\d](?:[a-z\d]|-(?=[a-z\d])){0,38}$/i;
+
+export function buildGitHubAuthorizationUrl(clientId, login = '') {
   const url = new URL('https://github.com/login/oauth/authorize');
   url.searchParams.set('client_id', clientId);
   url.searchParams.set('scope', 'read:user user:email');
+  if (GITHUB_LOGIN_RE.test(login)) url.searchParams.set('login', login);
   return url.toString();
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/github-oauth.test.js b/tests/github-oauth.test.js
index 3641991..4a544ca 100644
--- a/tests/github-oauth.test.js
+++ b/tests/github-oauth.test.js
@@ -10,4 +10,12 @@ test('uses the callback registered on the GitHub OAuth application', () => {
   assert.equal(url.searchParams.get('client_id'), 'client-id');
   assert.equal(url.searchParams.get('scope'), 'read:user user:email');
   assert.equal(url.searchParams.has('redirect_uri'), false);
+});
+
+test('suggests a valid nominated login without forwarding invalid input', () => {
+  const hintedUrl = new URL(buildGitHubAuthorizationUrl('client-id', 'octo-cat'));
+  const invalidUrl = new URL(buildGitHubAuthorizationUrl('client-id', 'not a login'));
+
+  assert.equal(hintedUrl.searchParams.get('login'), 'octo-cat');
+  assert.equal(invalidUrl.searchParams.has('login'), false);
 });
\ No newline at end of file