In a significant diplomatic shift, the United States has announced a partial suspension of the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals, set to take effect from January 1, 2026, citing border control and national security concerns.
The US Mission in Nigeria confirmed the development on Monday, stating that the restrictions will commence at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time under 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, alongside Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, and Zambia.
Under the proclamation, the US will partially suspend the issuance of nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas. The restrictions also extend to immigrant visas, with limited and clearly defined exemptions.
Those exempted from the suspension include: immigrant visa applicants who are ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran; dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the ban; eligible US government employees applying under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programme; participants in select major international sporting events; and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) of the United States.
The US clarified that the suspension applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not possess a valid US visa at that time.
“Foreign nationals, including 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 under the proclamation,” the statement said.
While Nigerian applicants may continue to submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, the US warned that such applicants may ultimately be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or entry under the new rules.
The announcement follows a series of recent US actions affecting Nigerian nationals. In October, Nigeria was reinstated on the US list of countries of particular concern for violations of religious freedom, a designation linked to ongoing insecurity and attacks on Christian communities.
This was subsequently followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised US travel restriction list, imposing partial entry limitations on Nigerian citizens.
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