The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has reinstated a stringent visa policy that could make it more difficult for Nigerians and other foreign nationals to obtain American visas. Mm
The move revives the controversial “public charge” rule, which targets applicants considered likely to depend on public assistance in the United States.
According to a new State Department cable obtained by Fox News Digital, U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed to immediately enforce the policy.
The directive restores the tougher Trump-era standards that were relaxed under President Joe Biden.
It authorizes consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed at risk of becoming a financial burden on the U.S. government.
“Self-sufficiency has long been a cornerstone of U.S. immigration policy,” the cable noted.
“The public charge ground of inadmissibility has existed in American law for more than a century.”
Under the reinstated rule, visa applicants will be evaluated on multiple criteria, including age, health, English proficiency, financial resources, and the likelihood of requiring long-term medical care.
Consular officers are instructed to review all supporting documents — from financial affidavits to medical reports — and make a comprehensive judgment about each case.
Older and medically vulnerable applicants are expected to face greater scrutiny.
The cable specifically cites the high cost of long-term institutional care as a factor that could weigh against approval.
The policy’s return follows President Trump’s new executive order titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.”
The order seeks to ensure that U.S. government benefits are not extended to immigrants deemed ineligible or dependent.
The State Department memo emphasizes that final determinations will rest with individual consular officers, who are required to conduct “thorough vetting” before granting any visa.
“There is no single test,” it reads. “Officers must consider all aspects of each applicant’s situation to assess whether they are likely to become a public charge.”
A senior State Department official told Fox News Digital that the move ends what the administration described as “years of open-border leniency” under President Biden.
Under Biden’s 2022 policy, only direct cash assistance and long-term institutional care were counted as public benefits.
Programs such as food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, housing vouchers, and WIC were excluded.
The reinstated Trump rule once again broadens that definition, counting a wider range of benefits as indicators of potential dependency.
The new directive also gives consular officers more authority to verify the authenticity of applicants’ financial documents and background information.
For Nigerians seeking U.S. visas — whether for study, work, or family reunification — the renewed policy could result in tougher screening, more denials, and longer processing times.
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