The United States Department of State has ordered a halt to visa processing for nationals of Nigeria and at least 74 other countries starting January 21.
Gatekeepers News reports that this comes as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration screening and enforce public-welfare rules.
Under the directive, U.S. embassies and consulates have been instructed to deny visa applications under existing immigration law while the department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures, with no set end date for the pause.
The suspension affects a wide range of nations across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America, including Russia, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Brazil, Thailand and others, with consular officers required to consider expanded public-charge criteria, such as applicants’ age, health, English proficiency, finances and likelihood of long-term medical care — before any visa is issued.
The pause comes amid a broader immigration crackdown and follows previous tighter visa restrictions introduced late last year.
A separate internal review of screening guidelines issued in November 2025 directed stricter enforcement of the public-charge rule, a long-standing element of U.S. immigration law that allows officials to deny visas to applicants judged likely to rely on public assistance.
The latest policy shift is expected to heighten uncertainty for students, workers, families, and travellers from affected countries and could strain diplomatic and people-to-people ties with the United States.
