No fewer than 5,000 Nigerians seeking to immigrate to the United States may face delays following new visa restrictions ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump according to U.S. consular data and official statements.
Figures from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos show that 5,626 immigrant visas were issued to Nigerians in 2023, up from 4,219 in 2022. An analysis of recent trends indicates that roughly 5,000 immigrant visas issued to Nigerians annually could be affected by the new measure, which targets foreigners seeking permanent residence in the United States.
In total, 70,621 Nigerians received U.S. immigrant and non-immigrant visas in 2024. Of that number, 63,313 were non-immigrant visas, with 30,222 issued in Abuja and 33,091 in Lagos. Another 7,308 Nigerians obtained immigrant visas during the period.
Confirming the development, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said immigrant visa processing would be paused for 75 countries. The suspension is scheduled to begin Jan. 21 and will remain in effect indefinitely pending the outcome of a review.
The policy is part of a broader entry restriction affecting countries Washington says present screening and vetting challenges or produce migrants who rely heavily on public benefits.
The announcement follows a decision last week by the Trump administration to impose a visa bond requirement of up to $15,000 on nationals of 38 countries, including Nigeria, effective Jan. 21, 2026. That policy targets countries with high visa overstay rates and security concerns.
In a post on X on Wednesday, the State Department said the pause would apply to countries whose migrants “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates,” adding that the freeze would remain until the United States could ensure new immigrants would not become public charges.
The affected countries include 27 in Africa, 22 in Asia, eight in Europe, 13 in North America and the Caribbean, three in South America and one in Oceania. Nigeria is among the African countries listed.
State Department data show global immigrant visa issuance rose to 612,258 in 2024 from 562,976 in 2023, while non-immigrant visas increased to 10,969,936 from 10,438,327 over the same period.
In December, the United States had already announced a partial visa ban on Nigeria and several other countries, citing persistent security challenges and visa overstays by temporary visitors.
