U.S. suspends visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries, effective Jan. 21, 2026.

A State Department memo directed consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while screening and vetting procedures are reassessed.

The pause begins on Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the Department of State completes its reassessment of visa processing.

State Department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, said: “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

Our correspondent reports that the United States and Nigeria operate visa reciprocity policies.

Visa reciprocity means countries set visa rules based on how their citizens are treated abroad.

If U.S. citizens face limits or high fees, Nigeria may impose similar restrictions through reciprocity schedules.

Key aspects include fees, validity periods and permitted numbers of entries.

Affected countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil and Burma.

Others listed are Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Further countries include Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan and Kazakhstan.

Also affected are Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco and Nepal.

The list continues with Nicaragua, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.

Others are Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda.

Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen are also included in the visa suspension.