United States opens up on Wole Soyinka’s visa revocation

United States opens up on Wole Soyinka’s visa revocation

The United States Consulate in Lagos has confirmed the revocation of Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s visa, reiterating that visas granted to foreign nationals are a privilege, not a right.

Responding to inquiries on Thursday, Julia McKay, Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Consulate General, stated that the Consulate could not discuss the specifics of Soyinka’s case due to confidentiality laws.

“Under U.S. law, visa records are generally confidential. We will not discuss the details of this individual visa case,” McKay said.

She emphasized that the U.S. government reserves the right to revoke visas at its discretion.

“Visas may be revoked at any time, whenever circumstances warrant. Every country, including the United States, can determine who enters its borders,” she added.

Prof. Soyinka, 91, disclosed the revocation during a press briefing held Tuesday at Kongi’s Harvest, Freedom Park, Lagos. He announced that his B1/B2 visa had been cancelled and that he would no longer be attending events in the United States.

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“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” Soyinka told journalists.

The literary icon, who has been openly critical of U.S. President Donald Trump, said he was uncertain about the reasons behind the decision. He reflected on his past interactions with U.S. authorities, questioning whether any prior conduct could have triggered the revocation.

Soyinka recounted two minor incidents from decades ago: a $25 fine at a Chicago airport for failing to declare green chilies, and a confrontation with police in Atlanta in the 1970s over what he described as racist behavior by a hotel receptionist.

According to a letter dated October 23, 2025, the Consulate stated that Soyinka’s visa had been revoked under U.S. Department of State regulation 22 CFR 41.122 and was no longer valid for entry into the country. The visa had originally been issued on April 2, 2024.

The Consulate requested that the visa be returned for physical cancellation and noted that Soyinka would need to reapply if he wished to travel to the U.S. again.

Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, has long-standing ties to the United States, having held several academic positions at American institutions.

The revocation has sparked debate over recent U.S. immigration policies, particularly those affecting African nationals, with critics questioning the broader implications for cultural and academic exchange.

United States opens up on Wole Soyinka’s visa revocation