US to suspend visa issuance to Nigerians, others from January 2026

The United States Government has announced that it partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerians from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation on border and national security.

The US Mission in Nigeria announced this via a statement on Monday, December 22, 2025.

The Mission noted that the restriction was 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.

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The Mission stated: “Effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “
‘Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,’ the Department of State  is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions for:

“Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.

“Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension

“Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)

“Participants in certain major sporting events

“Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).”

The Star