The United States has announced a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerian nationals and citizens of 18 other countries, with the policy set to take effect from January 1, 2026.

The announcement was made on Monday by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria through a statement published on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. According to the statement, the measure is being implemented under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which focuses on restricting and limiting the entry of certain foreign nationals to protect U.S. national security.

Under the proclamation, the suspension affects the issuance of B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as most immigrant visas. The affected countries include Nigeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The U.S. Mission clarified that the suspension will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026.

However, the policy includes limited exemptions. These apply to:

• Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran

• Dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the suspension

• Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants who are current or former U.S. government employees

• Participants in major international sporting events

• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) of the United States

The U.S. Mission further explained that the proclamation applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not hold valid visas at that time.

“Foreign nationals, including those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of January 1, 2026, will not be subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998,” the statement said.

It added that no visas issued before the effective date would be revoked as a result of the policy.

Visa applicants affected by the proclamation may still submit applications and schedule interviews, but may ultimately be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or admission into the United States.

The security-focused directive, issued on December 16, 2025, is aimed at tightening entry controls on countries assessed as presenting elevated immigration or security risks, according to details published in the U.S. Federal Register.

Meanwhile, reactions from Nigerians on social media have been mixed, with many expressing concerns over possible financial losses from visa application fees, while others voiced frustration and disappointment over the development.