USA Announces Visa Suspension for Nigerians, Effective January 1, 2026

The United States has announced a partial suspension of the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals, effective from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.

In a statement issued on Monday, the US Mission in Nigeria said the restriction will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time 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.”

Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure. Others listed include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The US government clarified 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.

It added that foreign nationals who already possess valid visas before the effective date will not be affected by the directive. “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 said.

Lawful permanent residents of the United States, as well as participants in certain major international sporting events, are exempt from the restriction.

The US Mission noted that visa applicants from affected countries 'may continue to submit applications and attend interviews'. 

However, it cautioned that such applicants may be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States under the new rules.

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