The US Embassy in Nigeria has announced that it will partially suspend visa issuance to Nigerian nationals, effective January 1, 2026, as part of President Donald Trump's new directive on immigration. This suspension applies to non-immigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas, with limited exceptions ¹ ².

The exceptions include:
- *Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran*
- *Dual nationals applying with a passport from a country not subject to the suspension*
- *Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for US government employees*
- *Participants in certain major sporting events*
- *Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)*

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, clarified that the visa restrictions are designed to strengthen security procedures and are not targeted at Nigerians. The move is part of a broader effort to secure US borders and protect American communities ³ ⁴.