The United States Embassy in Nigeria has assured Nigerians that visas issued before January 1, 2026, will remain valid despite new U.S. travel restrictions. The reassurance followed concerns after Nigeria was listed among countries facing partial travel suspensions announced on December 16 over security and immigration concerns.
U.S. authorities cited the presence of terrorist groups and high visa overstay rates as reasons for the decision, reporting a 5.56 percent overstay rate for B-1/B-2 visas and 11.90 percent for F, M and J visas. The partial suspension affects several immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories commonly used by Nigerians.
In a statement on Monday, the embassy said the restrictions apply only to foreign nationals outside the U.S. without valid visas as of the effective date. “No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” it said, adding that some categories remain exempt.