The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerian nationals, scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (6 a.m. Nigerian time).
The announcement follows a U.S. Presidential Proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
On Monday, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria posted on its website that certain categories of non-immigrant and all immigrant visas issued to Nigerians outside the United States will be affected.
The non-immigrant visas include B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas.
While visa applicants will still be allowed to submit applications and attend interviews, approval and issuance may be restricted once the policy comes into force.
The U.S. Mission clarified that visas issued before January 1 will remain valid and will not be revoked solely because of the new proclamation.
"Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998," the web post pointed out.
"No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation.
"Visa applicants who are subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States."
The suspension affects citizens of 18 other countries, 13 of which are in Africa.
U.S. officials say further guidance will be provided through official embassy channels.
