The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain categories of visas to Nigerian nationals from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday that 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.”
According to the statement, Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure. Others listed include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The proclamation provides for a partial suspension of visa issuance covering 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, with limited exceptions.
The US Mission clarified that the suspension does not apply to all categories of travellers.
Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees.
Other exempted categories include lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in selected major international sporting events.
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The US government stressed that the proclamation applies only to 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.
“Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998. 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 read.
Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews. However, the US Mission noted that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States” under the new rules.
The development comes amid a series of restrictive measures by the United States that have heightened concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study, or migrate to the country.
In October, Washington added Nigeria back to its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, citing persistent insecurity and attacks on Christian communities. This was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised US travel ban list, imposing partial entry restrictions on Nigerian nationals.
Earlier this year, the US government also reduced the validity of most nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas with a three-month duration.
More recently, reports indicated that applications for certain immigrant visas, including green cards, could face suspension under the new proclamation. US authorities, however, have clarified that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, are exempt and will not have their status revoked.
(Punch)