Acting on guidance from the U.S. Department of State, the United States Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria has announced a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance for nationals of Nigeria and 18 other countries. This policy, effective January 1, 2026, falls under Presidential Proclamation 10998, aimed at "restricting and limiting the entry of foreign nationals to protect the security of the United States." The measure will take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on the designated date.

The policy will affect the issuance of nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas. Additionally, all immigrant visas will be subject to this suspension, though with limited exceptions. The 19 countries whose nationals will face this partial suspension include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Despite the broad scope, the U.S. government has clarified that certain categories of applicants will be exempt from the suspension. These exemptions encompass immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports of countries not subject to the suspension, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for eligible U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D), participants in certain major sporting events, and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).

The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria further explained that Presidential Proclamation 10998 applies exclusively to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not hold a valid U.S. visa at that specific time. Importantly, foreign nationals who are outside the United States but already possess valid visas as of January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, are not subject to the proclamation. The statement also underscored that no visas issued before the effective date have been, or will be, revoked as a result of this policy. While visa applicants who fall under the proclamation may still submit applications and schedule interviews, U.S. authorities cautioned that such applicants may ultimately be found ineligible for visa issuance or admission into the United States.