The United States has imposed new visa restrictions on Nigeria and 74 other countries.
Confirming the development, a State Department spokesperson said, “The State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries.”
The pause will begin on January 21 and will continue indefinitely until the review is complete.
The policy forms part of a wider entry suspension affecting countries regarded by Washington as posing screening and vetting difficulties or producing migrants who rely excessively on public benefits.
The latest development comes barely a week after the Trump administration imposed a visa bond requirement of up to $15,000 on nationals from 38 countries, including Nigeria, effective January 21, 2026.
The policy targets countries with high visa overstay rates and security concerns.
The State Department in a post on X on Wednesday announced the pause of immigrant visa processing from 75 countries, which it claimed the migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.
The post read, “The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
‘’The pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival. We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused. The Trump Administration will always put America First.”
The affected countries include 27 African countries, 22 Asian countries, 8 European countries, 13 North American and Caribbean countries, three South American countries and one Oceania.
The new restrictions are expected to have significant implications for prospective immigrants, families, and businesses in the affected countries, as thousands of visa applicants now face uncertainty while the U.S. government conducts its review, with no clear timeline yet announced for the resumption of processing.
