The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals beginning January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria confirmed that the restriction takes 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.”
Countries Affected
Nigeria is among 19 countries affected. Others 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.
Visas Affected
The partial suspension covers:
Non-immigrant visas:
B-1/B-2 (business and tourism)
F, M and J (student and exchange visitor visas)
Immigrant visas, with limited exceptions
Who Is Exempted?
The suspension does not apply to everyone. Exemptions include:
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
Foreign nationals who already hold valid US visas issued before January 1, 2026
Dual nationals applying with passports from non-affected countries
Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders eligible due to US government employment
Participants in certain major international sporting events
Certain humanitarian cases, including persecuted ethnic or religious minorities
Importantly, no visas issued before January 1, 2026, will be revoked under the proclamation.
Who the Rule Applies To
The measure applies only to foreign nationals who:
Are outside the United States on January 1, 2026, and
Do not have a valid US visa as of that date
Applicants from affected countries may still submit applications and attend interviews, but they may be found ineligible for visa issuance or entry under the new rules.
Broader Context
This move follows a series of recent US actions affecting Nigerians, including:
Nigeria’s re-listing in October as a country of concern for religious freedom
Inclusion on a revised US travel restriction list
Reduction of most Nigerian non-immigrant visas to single-entry, three-month validity
Reports of tighter scrutiny and possible suspension of some immigrant visa categories
US authorities have repeatedly stressed that lawful residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, remain protected and will not lose their status.