By Deborah Nnamdi
The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain categories of visas to Nigerian nationals beginning January 1, 2026, following Presidential Proclamation 10998 on border and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday that the restrictions will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time under the proclamation 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. Others include 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, there will be a partial suspension of non-immigrant 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, although limited exceptions apply.
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, Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees, participants in certain major international sporting events, and lawful permanent residents.
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.
According to the US Mission, foreign nationals who already hold valid visas as of January 1, 2026, will not be affected by the proclamation. It added that no visas issued before that date and time have been or will be revoked under the policy.
While Nigerian applicants may continue to submit visa applications and attend interviews, the mission cautioned that they may be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States under the new rules.
The development comes amid a series of recent US actions affecting Nigerian nationals. In October, the US reinstated Nigeria on 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 imposing partial entry restrictions.
