The United States announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to nationals of Nigeria and 18 other countries, effective January 1, 2026, citing security concerns. The restriction bars Nigerians from entering the U.S. as green‑card holders or on B‑1, B‑2, B‑1/B‑2, F, M, and J visas, which cover business, tourism, academic, vocational and exchange programs. According to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, the measure follows Presidential Proclamation 10998, which seeks to tighten immigration controls to protect national security.
The suspension applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not already hold a valid visa. Visas issued before January 1, 2026 will not be revoked, and individuals possessing valid visas as of that date are not subject to the proclamation. The countries affected are Nigeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
U.S. authorities clarified that visa applicants from the affected countries may still submit applications and attend interviews, but they may be found ineligible for visa issuance or admission. The proclamation provides exemptions for lawful permanent residents, dual nationals using passports from unaffected countries, U.S. government employees eligible for Special Immigrant Visas, participants in major international sporting events, and ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
The White House cited the activities of radical Islamist groups, Nigeria’s persistent security crisis, and difficulties in verifying applicants’ backgrounds as reasons for the decision. The restrictions come weeks after the U.S. designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, following accusations that it supports Islamic extremists persecuting Christians—a claim the Nigerian government denies, describing the crisis as complex. Diplomatic engagements on Nigeria’s security have continued, with high‑level delegations exchanged between the two countries in the past month.
The U.S. government stated that the restrictions aim to encourage cooperation from foreign governments, reduce visa‑overstay rates, enforce immigration laws, and advance national‑security and counter‑terrorism objectives. In addition to the partial visa suspension, the United States has imposed a total travel ban on Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Syria and Sudan, citing their records of fraudulent or unreliable civil documents, criminal histories and widespread corruption. Authorities argue that these travel bans protect the United States from foreign terrorists and other security threats.
The restrictions are expected to have significant implications for individuals and families affected by the suspension, as well as for diplomatic relations between the United States and the affected countries.
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