BY NECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The United States Department of State has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries, including Nigeria, effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST.
The measure is in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” Under the directive, affected countries are 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.
According to the State Department, the suspension applies to nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas. It also covers most immigrant visas, subject to limited exceptions.
Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) issued to eligible U.S. government employees. The proclamation also excludes participants in select major international sporting events and lawful permanent residents of the United States.
The State Department clarified that the proclamation applies only 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 time. Individuals who already possess valid visas as of January 1, 2026, are not affected, and no visas issued before that date will be revoked under the proclamation.
While applicants from the affected countries may continue to submit visa applications and schedule interviews, the department noted that they may ultimately be found ineligible for visa issuance or entry into the United States under the new rules.
