The United States Department of State has directed consular officers to temporarily pause visa processing for Nigeria and several other countries, pending a comprehensive review of screening and vetting procedures.
The directive, contained in an internal memo first reported by Fox News, takes effect from January 21 and applies across multiple visa categories.
Under the instruction, consular officers are to refuse visa applications using existing provisions of U.S. immigration law while the reassessment is ongoing. The pause will remain in force indefinitely until the review is concluded.
The affected countries cut across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America, and include Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia, Brazil and Thailand.
The policy shift is linked to the “public charge” rule, a long-standing aspect of U.S. immigration law that allows authorities to deny visas to applicants considered likely to rely on public benefits.
In November 2025, the State Department issued new guidance to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, directing stricter enforcement of the rule.
The guidance expanded the factors to be assessed by visa officers, including applicants’ age, health status, English proficiency, financial capacity, employment prospects and potential need for long-term medical care.
Applicants deemed at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance may be denied entry.
Somalia has drawn particular attention following a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, where U.S. prosecutors uncovered widespread abuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programmes. Federal officials said many of those implicated 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 now facing tougher migration controls. This comes at a time when thousands of Nigerians apply annually for student, work, tourist and family-based visas to the United States.
The State Department has not provided a timeline for completing the review, nor clarified whether humanitarian or special exemptions will apply.
The development is expected to increase uncertainty for prospective travellers, students and families, and may further strain diplomatic and people-to-people relations between the U.S. and the affected countries.
