The United States (U.S) government announced its decision to indefinitely freeze all visa processing for 75 countries, including Nigeria.
This policy, detailed in an internal State Department memo, is set to freeze all visa processing for applicants from 75 affected countries starting January 21, 2026.
It was gathered that the move to freeze all visa processing for 75 countries is part of a broader reassessment of screening procedures aimed at preventing individuals likely to become a “public charge” on U.S. resources.
The memo also instructed consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances, and even potential need for long-term medical care.
Older or overweight applicants could be denied, along with those who had any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalization.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.
“The pause will begin January 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of visa processing,” the statement added.
The full list of countries comprises of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen
This development marks one of the most extensive immigration restrictions under the current Trump administration, building on earlier measures such as stricter social media scrutiny and public charge evaluations introduced in late 2025.
For Nigeria, a country with a high volume of U.S. visa applications, particularly for student, tourist, work, and family reunification categories, the move to freeze all visa processing is expected to disrupt thousands of plans.
Many Nigerians rely on U.S. opportunities for education, employment, and family ties, and the sudden halt has raised concerns about economic and personal impacts.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass also reports that this comes after the United States Department of State recently announced an update to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerian citizens.
According to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Abuja, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period and the new visa restrictions take immediate effect.
The policy also aligns with the administration’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration controls, including recent revocations of over 100,000 visas and restrictions linked to national security concerns.
