Thousands of Nigerians planning to move to the United States are set to face significant delays following a sweeping new immigration order from Washington. The policy, announced by President Donald Trump, has paused immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Nigeria.
Details of the US Visa Restrictions
The restriction was announced on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and is scheduled to begin on January 21. It will continue indefinitely until a review is complete. According to data from the US consulate in Lagos, this move could affect at least 5,000 Nigerian immigrant visa applicants annually.
In 2023, the consulate issued 5,626 immigrant visas to Nigerians, up from 4,219 in 2022. An analysis indicates the new freeze directly targets this growing number. Overall, a total of 70,621 Nigerians received both immigrant and non-immigrant US visas in 2024. Out of this figure, 7,308 were immigrant visas.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the development, stating, "The State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries." The policy targets nations Washington regards as posing screening difficulties or having migrants who may rely on public benefits.
Visa Bond Adds Financial Pressure
This visa processing pause comes just a week after the Trump administration imposed a separate visa bond requirement of up to $15,000 on nationals from 38 countries, including Nigeria. This bond, also effective from January 21, 2026, targets countries with high visa overstay rates and security concerns.
In a post on X, the State Department justified the broader freeze, saying it impacts countries "whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival." The statement emphasized the administration's "America First" stance, vowing to ensure "the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused."
The list of 75 affected nations includes 27 African countries. Alongside Nigeria, other affected African nations are Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.
Diplomatic Reactions and Warnings
Nigerian diplomats and analysts have expressed deep concern, warning that the measures could strain the long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the US.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, criticized the move as a contradiction of America's advocacy for globalization. "It is unfortunate that the apostle of globalisation is the one now engaging what I’ll call a reverse gear," he stated.
Another ex-Ambassador, Godknows Igali, acknowledged the US's sovereign right to set policy but urged consideration of the implications. He highlighted the positive contributions of Nigerians in America, stating, "Nigerians have given a good account of themselves in the US, very disciplined, very hardworking... So, they are not a liability to the system." He emphasized that most Nigerian migrants are skilled and enterprising.
Foreign affairs analyst Charles Onunaiju warned that the restriction reflects a deeper shift in US politics and could foreshadow further tightening. He noted that "Mr Trump campaigned and won on the basis of extremist anti-immigration posturing, and he is leveraging that."
This is not the first recent visa restriction on Nigeria. In December, the US announced a partial visa ban citing persistent security challenges and overstays, specifically suspending entry for Nigerians on certain visa categories like B-1, B-2, F, M, and J visas.
The global context shows US immigrant visa issuance climbed to 612,258 in 2024, up from 562,976 in 2023. The latest policies mark a significant pivot, placing new hurdles for thousands of Nigerians whose American dreams are now on hold indefinitely.
