The United States government has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerian citizens, with the policy scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.
The decision was communicated in an official statement issued by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, which explained that the measure is in line with a new presidential proclamation aimed at strengthening U.S. national security and border control.
According to the statement, the suspension will begin at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on the effective date and will affect several visa categories. These include B1/B2 visitor visas for business and tourism, student and exchange visas (F, M, and J), as well as most immigrant visa categories.
However, the U.S. government clarified that the suspension is not a blanket ban and that several exemptions apply. Individuals who already possess valid U.S. visas issued before January 1, 2026, will not have their visas revoked. Similarly, the policy does not apply to lawful permanent residents of the United States.
Other exemptions include dual nationals travelling with passports from countries not affected by the suspension, Special Immigrant Visa holders, certain individuals connected to U.S. government service, and participants in approved international sporting events. The proclamation also provides exemptions for specific humanitarian cases.
The U.S. Mission further explained that the restriction only applies to Nigerian nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not already hold valid visas. While visa applicants may still submit applications and attend scheduled interviews, they may ultimately be found ineligible for visa issuance or entry under the new directive.
The announcement has sparked concerns among Nigerians, particularly students, business travellers, and families planning reunification, many of whom fear financial losses and disruption to long-standing travel plans.
U.S. authorities maintained that the policy is part of broader efforts to enhance security while continuing to allow legitimate travel under clearly defined exceptions.
