The United States has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance for Nigerian nationals, effective January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.
In a statement released on Monday, the US Mission in Nigeria said the restriction will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure.
Under the proclamation, the suspension covers nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas. It also applies to certain immigrant visas, though with limited exceptions.
US authorities clarified that the policy does not apply to all applicants. Exemptions include lawful permanent residents of the United States, dual nationals travelling with passports from non-affected countries, Special Immigrant Visa holders eligible through US government employment, and participants in select major international sporting events.
The US Mission further stressed that the proclamation only affects foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not hold a valid US visa as of January 1, 2026. “No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the statement said.
While visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews, the Mission warned that such applicants may be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or admission under the new rules.
The announcement adds to a series of recent US policy actions that have raised concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study or migrate to the country, including tighter visa validity rules and Nigeria’s re-listing under US religious freedom concerns.
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