For nationals of these countries, the suspension covers nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas.
The United States government has announced the enforcement of partial visa restrictions on nationals of Nigeria and 18 other countries, with the measures set to take effect from January 1, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria on Monday, the restrictions will begin at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026, 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 proclamation, the U.S. will partially suspend the issuance of visas to nationals of 19 countries: 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.
For nationals of these countries, the suspension covers nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas. The policy also extends to all immigrant visas, subject to limited exceptions.
The listed exceptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran; dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not subject to the suspension; Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for eligible U.S. government employees under U.S. immigration law; participants in certain major sporting events; and lawful permanent residents of the United States.
In addition, the statement disclosed that, effective January 1, 2026, visa issuance to nationals of Turkmenistan will be partially suspended for all immigrant visas, with the same limited exceptions applying.
The proclamation also removes certain categorical exemptions that were previously available under Presidential Proclamation 10949.
As a result, immediate family immigrant visas, including spousal, child, and parent categories, adoption-related visas, and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas will no longer qualify as exceptions for nationals subject to the suspension.
However, U.S. authorities noted that discretionary waivers remain possible.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may determine on a case-by-case basis that an individual’s travel serves U.S. national interests.
Similar discretionary authority applies to the Department of Homeland Security, while the Attorney General may approve travel that advances a critical U.S. national interest involving the Department of Justice.
The U.S. government clarified that Presidential Proclamation 10998 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 as of 12:01 a.m. EST on January 1, 2026.
Foreign nationals who already possess valid visas as of the effective date will not be affected by the proclamation, and the Department of State emphasized that no visas issued before that time have been or will be revoked under the policy.
Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend scheduled interviews, but officials warned that such applicants could be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States under the new rules.