The United States Government has announced a pause in immigrant visa processing for applicants from about 75 countries, including Nigeria, with the measure set to take effect from January 21, 2026.
The announcement was made on Wednesday through the official X account of the White House, which said the decision was driven by concerns that migrants from the affected countries rely on welfare benefits in the United States at what it described as “unacceptable rates.”
According to the statement, the suspension applies strictly to immigrant visas and will remain in place indefinitely while U.S. authorities review immigration screening and processing procedures. The government said the freeze would continue until it could be satisfied that new immigrants would not “extract wealth from the American people.”
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the statement said.
The White House noted that the decision affects dozens of countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and Asia, citing examples such as Somalia, Haiti, Iran and Eritrea. It added that the administration was working to ensure that public resources in the United States were not being abused.
Fox News, citing a U.S. State Department memo, reported that consular officers have received new operational directives during the pause. Under the guidance, officers are instructed to refuse immigrant visas under existing legal provisions while the department reassesses its vetting framework. The memo indicated that the “public charge” rule would now be applied more strictly, with visa decisions based on a broader assessment of applicants’ health, age, language ability, financial strength and likelihood of depending on long-term public support.
The guidance also reportedly directs officers to pay closer attention to applicants with any prior history of government cash assistance or institutional support, as this could weigh against visa approval under the revised approach. These directives are expected to shape how immigrant visa applications are assessed until the review process is completed.
For Nigerians, the development adds to tightening U.S. immigration measures in recent weeks. It follows the introduction of new travel restrictions for Nigerian applicants seeking B1 and B2 business and tourism visas, who are among citizens of 38 countries now required to post a visa bond of up to 15,000 dollars.
The U.S. Department of State has clarified on its official website that payment of the bond does not guarantee visa approval and that any payment made without direct instruction from a consular officer will not be refunded. The bond requirement is also scheduled to take effect on January 21, 2026, and forms part of a broader visa risk management strategy targeting countries classified as high-risk.
The evolving policy landscape has raised concerns among prospective migrants, professionals and small business owners who rely on international mobility for education, employment and cross-border trade opportunities.
