The United States government has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria. The suspension takes effect from 21 January and applies exclusively to immigrant visas.
Immigrant visas are typically issued to individuals seeking permanent residence in the United States through family sponsorship, employment-based pathways, or other long-term immigration routes. Importantly, the suspension does not affect non-immigrant visas, such as tourist, business, student, or short-term travel visas.
Scope and Rationale of the Suspension
The decision was communicated via an internal U.S. State Department cable and applies to countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.
According to the U.S. State Department, the suspension is rooted in concerns that some applicants from the affected countries may become a “public charge”—a legal designation referring to individuals deemed likely to depend on U.S. government welfare or public benefits after entry.
Commenting on the decision, Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department, stated that the department would exercise its long-standing authority to deem ineligible applicants who may rely on public assistance. Under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, immigrant visa processing will remain paused while procedures are reassessed to strengthen screening and oversight.
What the Directive Means in Practice
Under the new directive:
- Consular officers have been instructed to refuse immigrant visa cases that have already been approved but not yet printed.
Limited exemptions may apply to:
- Dual nationals holding passports from countries not on the suspension list.
- Applicants whose travel is deemed to serve U.S. national interests under the administration’s “America First” policy.
The suspension also affects asylum processing, green card applications, and certain citizenship procedures linked to countries covered by earlier restrictions.
The State Department has not provided a timeline for when the suspension will be reviewed or lifted.
Countries Affected
- Nigeria is among several African countries impacted, alongside Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Liberia, and others.
- Outside Africa, affected countries include Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Haiti, Cuba, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jamaica, among others—bringing the total to 75 countries across multiple regions.
Policy Context
This move follows a series of immigration restrictions introduced by the Trump administration, which returned to office this year with a renewed focus on reducing both legal and illegal immigration. Officials say the measure is intended to limit public spending, strengthen national security, and tighten immigration controls.
The announcement also comes shortly after the U.S. Diversity Visa Program was paused in late December—a program that previously allowed up to 55,000 immigrants annually from countries with low U.S. immigration rates.
Implications for Nigerian Applicants
For Nigeria, the suspension is expected to delay or halt family reunification and employment-based immigration cases, potentially impacting long-term relocation plans and remittance flows. However, Nigerian citizens remain eligible to apply for non-immigrant visas, including tourist, business, and student visas.
What This Means for Global Families and Investors
This development underscores the growing uncertainty surrounding single-country immigration strategies. For globally mobile families and investors, it reinforces the importance of diversifying residency and citizenship options—particularly through stable, investment-led programs in jurisdictions with predictable policies.
At The Premiere, we guide clients in structuring their global mobility and wealth strategies with resilience in mind—leveraging residence and citizenship by investment solutions that provide flexibility, security, and long-term planning certainty in an increasingly complex immigration landscape.
For tailored guidance on alternative pathways to global access and long-term residency planning, speak with The Premiere today.