The United States has temporarily halted visa processing at its mission in Nigeria and in at least seventy-four other countries, pending a comprehensive review of immigration procedures.
The directive, contained in an internal memo and reported by U.S. media, instructs visa officers to deny applications under existing immigration provisions while the review is underway.
The suspension affects multiple visa categories and is expected to remain in place indefinitely until the reassessment is concluded.
Countries impacted span Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In addition to Nigeria, affected nations reportedly include Russia, Brazil, and Thailand.
The move is linked to the enforcement of the “public charge” rule, a long-standing U.S. immigration policy that allows authorities to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to depend on public assistance.
Although Nigeria was not specifically singled out in the memo, its inclusion places it among countries now facing stricter migration controls, at a time when large numbers of Nigerians seek U.S. visas for education, employment, tourism, and family reunification.
The U.S. State Department has yet to announce a timeline for completing the review or clarify whether humanitarian or special exemptions will be granted.
Editor: Ada Ononye
