US Suspends Visa Processing for Nigeria, Russia, 73 Others

US Suspends Visa Processing for Nigeria, Russia, 73 Others

The United States government has ordered its embassies and consulates to pause visa processing for Nigeria, Russia and at least 73 other countries, as Washington tightens immigration screening amid concerns over potential welfare dependence by foreign nationals.

The directive, issued by the US Department of State, instructs consular officers to halt visa processing for applicants from the affected countries from January 21, pending a comprehensive reassessment of existing visa screening and vetting procedures. The order was contained in an internal memo first reported by Fox News.

Under the new instruction, visa officers are authorised to refuse applications using existing US immigration laws while the review is ongoing. The suspension applies to multiple visa categories, including student, work, tourist and family-based visas, and will remain in force indefinitely until the review is concluded.

Countries affected span Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America, and include Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia, Brazil and Thailand, among others.

The policy shift is linked to the “public charge” rule, a long-standing provision of US immigration law that allows authorities to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits. In November 2025, the State Department issued fresh guidance to embassies worldwide mandating stricter enforcement of the rule.

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The updated guidance broadened the criteria used to assess applicants, including age, health condition, English proficiency, financial resources, employment prospects, and the likelihood of requiring long-term medical or social assistance. Applicants assessed as posing a high risk of welfare dependence may be denied entry.

Somalia has drawn particular attention following a major welfare fraud investigation in Minnesota, where US prosecutors uncovered large-scale abuse of taxpayer-funded social programmes. Federal authorities said many suspects were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans, prompting heightened scrutiny of visa applications linked to the country.

Although Nigeria was not specifically highlighted in the memo, its inclusion places it among countries facing tighter US immigration controls, a development likely to affect thousands of Nigerians who apply annually for US visas for education, employment, tourism and family reunification.

The US State Department has yet to announce a timeline for completing the review or clarify whether humanitarian or emergency exemptions will be considered.

The decision is expected to increase uncertainty for prospective travellers, students and families, particularly from developing nations, and may further strain diplomatic relations and people-to-people exchanges between the United States and the affected countries.

US Suspends Visa Processing for Nigeria, Russia, 73 Others