The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerian nationals, effective January 1, 2026.
The decision, confirmed in a statement posted on the Embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday night, follows a new immigration directive issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure.
According to the statement, the suspension will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
Under the directive, the U.S. Department of State will partially suspend the issuance of certain categories of visas to nationals of the affected countries. These include nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as all immigrant visas, subject to limited exceptions.
The countries impacted by the suspension are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
However, the proclamation outlines specific exemptions. Visa issuance will continue for:
Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Dual nationals applying with passports from countries not subject to the suspension
Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for eligible U.S. government employees under U.S. law
Participants in certain major international sporting events
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) of the United States
The U.S. Embassy did not indicate how long the suspension will remain in effect, noting only that it is tied to national security considerations under the presidential proclamation.
The announcement is expected to have significant implications for travel, education, and migration plans for affected nationals, including thousands of Nigerians who apply annually for U.S. visitor, student, and immigrant visas.
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