The United States Embassy in Nigeria has assured Nigerians that all visas issued before January 1, 2026, will remain valid, despite new travel restrictions announced by the U.S. government.
The clarification follows concerns raised after Nigeria was listed among 15 mostly African countries placed under partial U.S. travel suspensions on December 16. Other affected countries include Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and The Gambia.
According to U.S. authorities, the decision was influenced by security concerns, including the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of Nigeria, which were said to pose challenges to effective screening and vetting processes.
The U.S. government also cited high visa overstay rates among Nigerian travellers, reporting 5.56 per cent for B-1/B-2 visitor visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M, and J student and exchange visas.
The partial suspension affects both immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, which are commonly used by Nigerians for business, tourism, study, and exchange programmes. The restrictions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday, the U.S. Embassy clarified that the proclamation does not apply to visas issued before the effective date.
“No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the embassy said.
The embassy added that the restrictions apply only to foreign nationals outside the United States on the effective date who do not already hold valid visas.
It also noted that several categories of travellers are exempted, including lawful permanent residents, dual nationals travelling with passports from unaffected countries, special immigrant visa holders working with the U.S. government, participants in major international sporting events, and certain persecuted ethnic and religious minorities.
While affected applicants may still submit visa applications and attend interviews, the embassy warned that such individuals may be found ineligible for visa issuance or admission under the new rules.
