US SUSPENDS VISA PROCESSING FOR 75 COUNTRIES, IMPACTING NIGERIA AND RUSSIA

Visa applications from Nigeria, Russia and at least 73 other countries will be suspended at United States embassies and consulates as Washington moves to tighten immigration screening amid concerns about potential dependence on public welfare.

The U.S. Department of State has instructed consular officers to halt visa processing for the affected countries beginning January 21, pending a comprehensive reassessment of screening and vetting procedures. According to an internal memo first reported by Fox News, consular officials are to refuse applications under existing provisions of U.S. immigration law while the review is underway. The suspension covers multiple visa categories and will remain in effect indefinitely until the reassessment is completed.

The affected countries span 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 enforcement of the “public charge” rule, a long‑standing provision of U.S. immigration law that permits authorities to deny visas to applicants considered likely to rely on public benefits.

In November 2025, the State Department issued guidance to missions worldwide directing stricter application of the rule, expanding the factors consular officers must consider when evaluating applicants, including age, health, English proficiency, financial capacity, employment prospects and the potential need for long‑term medical care.

Under the revised guidance, applicants deemed at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance can be denied entry.

Somalia has drawn particular scrutiny from U.S. authorities following a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered widespread abuse of taxpayer‑funded welfare programmes.

Federal officials noted that many of those implicated were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans, a development that has intensified scrutiny of visa applications linked to Somalia.

Although Nigeria was not specifically mentioned in the memo, its inclusion places it among the countries now facing stricter immigration controls, at a time when large numbers of Nigerians apply annually for student, work, tourist, and family-based visas to the U.S.

The State Department has not indicated when the review will be completed or clarified whether humanitarian exemptions will be granted.

The policy is expected to heighten uncertainty for prospective travelers, students, and families—particularly from developing countries—and could place additional strain on diplomatic and people-to-people relations with the affected nations.