The United States has announced an abrupt suspension of immigrant visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries, effective January 21, 2026, in an effort to tighten immigration screening under a long-standing “public charge” rule, according to multiple official and media reports.

Under the policy, immigrant visa applications from affected countries will be paused indefinitely while the U.S. State Department reassesses procedures to determine whether applicants may become reliant on public benefits once admitted into the country.

What the Visa Suspension Means

The directive, issued by the U.S. Department of State, instructs U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to halt decisions on immigrant visa cases for nationals of the listed countries. The decision — part of broader immigration policy changes — is intended to reduce the number of new immigrants deemed likely to draw on U.S. public assistance.

Nigeria is among the 75 nations affected, alongside countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Thailand, Yemen, and others.

The pause applies only to immigrant visas, which are required for individuals seeking permanent residency (green cards) in the U.S. Short-term non-immigrant visas (such as tourist or business visas) are generally not immediately affected.

How the Policy Works

The action is rooted in the U.S.’s existing “public charge” inadmissibility standard, which gives consular officers discretion to deny immigrant visas to applicants judged likely to become financially dependent on government benefits. Factors considered may include age, health, financial resources, English proficiency and skills.

The current policy reflects a renewed emphasis on this rule, with the aim of prioritising immigrants who are financially self-sufficient and less likely to require welfare or public assistance.

Impact on Nigerians and Others

Prospective immigrants from Nigeria and other affected countries now face significant uncertainty about their visa applications, as the pause could delay processing for months or longer, depending on the duration of the review.

Although this suspension does not revoke visas already issued before January 21, new applicants and those without valid visas at the time of implementation will be directly affected.