The United States Mission in Nigeria has clarified that Nigerian students and exchange visitors who already hold valid visas will not be impacted by the partial visa suspension introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, the mission said holders of valid F-1 and J-1 visas can continue their academic and exchange programmes in the United States without disruption.
“Nigerian students and exchange participants with currently valid F1 and J1 visas are not affected by Presidential Proclamation 10998,” the statement read. “Students and exchange participants with visas can continue to contribute to learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions.”
The clarification comes ahead of the proclamation’s implementation on January 1, 2026. The directive, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” introduces partial visa suspensions for affected countries, including Nigeria.
Under the new policy, the U.S. will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals beginning at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026. The affected categories include:
- Nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas
- F, M, and J student and exchange visas
- Immigrant visas, with limited exceptions
However, U.S. authorities emphasized that the measure applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not hold a valid U.S. visa as of January 1, 2026.
Officials further stated that visas issued before the effective date will not be revoked under the proclamation.
Nigeria is among 19 countries listed under the partial suspension. The move follows a series of immigration-related adjustments in recent months, including the reduction of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas valid for three months. Washington also re-listed Nigeria among countries cited for religious freedom concerns and added it to a revised travel restriction framework.
The latest clarification is expected to ease concerns among Nigerian students and exchange participants about the status of their existing visas.
An F-1 visa is issued to international students enrolled full-time in academic programmes in the United States, while a J-1 visa covers exchange visitors such as students, researchers and interns participating in approved educational or cultural programmes.
Source: Punchng