Dalena Reporters l December 22, 2025
The United States government has revealed that it will begin enforcing partial visa restrictions on nationals of Nigeria and 18 other countries starting January 1, 2026, as part of a broader effort to “tighten immigration controls” under Presidential Proclamation 10998 on border and national security. The announcement was made by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, which said the measures are aimed at strengthening vetting procedures and curbing security risks tied to overstay rates and gaps in screening systems.
Under the new rules, the United States will suspend the issuance of certain nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to Nigerian nationals who are outside the country and do not already hold a valid U.S. visa as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026. Affected categories include B-1/B-2 visitor visas (for business and tourism) as well as F, M and J visas for students and exchange visitors.
The restrictions also apply to other countries including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe — all listed by the U.S. Mission as among those facing partial suspension of visa services.
While visa applicants from Nigeria may still submit applications and attend interviews, consular officials have warned that under the new proclamation they might be ineligible for visa issuance or entry to the United States once the policy takes effect.
Exceptions to the restrictions include:
- Immigrant visas for ethnic or religious minorities facing persecution in Iran;
- Dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not subject to the suspension;
- Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for eligible U.S. government employees and certain other categories;
- Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders); and
- Participants in certain major international sporting events.
The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, clarified that the visa review and resultant restrictions are not intended to penalise Nigerians personally, but to ensure proper vetting and credible information in the visa process as part of broader border-security priorities. He emphasised the importance of consulting official information from the U.S. Embassy for the full list of exemptions and affected categories.
This announcement comes amid a series of tightened U.S. travel and immigration policies that have expanded the list of nations facing full or partial entry restrictions — a shift critics say will reshape how Nigerians and others can travel for business, education and tourism once the measures take effect at the start of 2026.
Published by Dalena Reporters.