US To Stop Giving Visa To Nigerians From January 1, 2026

Us is set to stop giving Nigerians visa from January 1st, 2026.

NewsRain Nigeria reports that the United States (US) has said it is partially suspending the issuance of visas to nationals of Nigeria and 18 other countries from January 1, 2026.

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday in a statement on its official X account, saying that the restriction will take effect at 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”

According to the statement, Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure.

Others include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

READ ALSO: Trump Suspends US Green Card Lottery

The proclamation provides for a partial suspension of visa issuance covering nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas. It also applies to immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.

The US Mission clarified that the suspension does not apply to everyone.

Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not affected by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees.

Other exempted categories include lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in certain major international sporting events.

The US government stressed that the proclamation only applies 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.

“Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998. 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 read.

Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews.

However, the US Mission noted that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States” under the new rules.

Recent weeks have seen a series of restrictive measures by the United States that have heightened concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study, or migrate to the country.

In October, Washington added Nigeria back to its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, a move that officials linked to persistent insecurity and attacks on Christian communities.

This was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised US travel ban list, imposing partial entry restrictions on Nigerian nationals.

The US has also tightened immigration and visa policies affecting Nigerians.

Earlier this year, the US government reduced the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas with a three-month duration.

More recently, reports indicated that applications for certain immigrant visas, including green cards, could face suspension under a new presidential proclamation, although US authorities have clarified that lawful permanent residents and holders of valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, are exempt and will not have their status revoked.

Meanwhile, early replies from Nigerians express frustration over potential financial losses from paid applications and sarcasm about making the ban permanent, highlighting immediate economic and emotional impacts on visa seekers.