The United States Mission Nigeria has clarified that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid visas will not be affected by the partial visa suspension introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, the mission said Nigerian students and exchange participants with currently valid F1 and J1 visas can continue their academic and research activities 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. Students and exchange participants with visas can continue to contribute to learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions,” the mission stated.
The clarification comes amid the January 1, 2026, implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
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Under the proclamation, the United States 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 suspension covers nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as immigrant visas, subject to limited exceptions.
However, U.S. authorities emphasised 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 clarified that foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to the proclamation.
According to the mission, no visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST have been or will be revoked pursuant to the directive.
Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the partial suspension scheduled to take effect in January 2026.
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The latest clarification follows a series of immigration-related measures introduced by Washington in recent months.
Earlier this year, the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians was reduced to single-entry visas with a three-month duration.
In October, the United States added Nigeria back to its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, a move that was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised U.S. travel restriction list imposing partial entry restrictions.
