ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The United States will implement a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians starting January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation intended to enhance 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.”
Nigeria is among 19 countries impacted by the measure, alongside Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The proclamation mandates 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 affects immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.
The statement read in part: “Effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on ‘Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,’ the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions.”
US officials clarified that the policy does not apply to all travellers.
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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 exempt categories include lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in certain major international sporting events.
The US government emphasised 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 added.
Visa applicants from affected countries may still submit applications and attend interviews; however, the US Mission noted that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the US” under the new rules.
The announcement follows a series of recent US policy actions that have raised concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study or migrate to the country.
In October, the United States 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 that imposed partial entry restrictions.
The US has also tightened immigration and visa policies affecting Nigerians. Earlier this year, most nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians were reduced to single-entry visas valid for three months.
More recently, reports suggested that certain immigrant visa applications, including green cards, could face suspension under the new proclamation.
US authorities, however, have reiterated that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, are exempt and will not have their status revoked.