US tightens borders, pauses Visa Processing for Nigeria, Russia, 73 Other Nations

Visa applications from Nigeria, Russia and at least 73 other countries will no longer be processed by United States embassies and consulates, following a new directive by Washington to tighten immigration screening over concerns about welfare dependence.

The United States Department of State has instructed consular officers to suspend visa processing for the affected countries from January 21, 2026, pending a comprehensive review of existing screening and vetting procedures.

The directive was contained in an internal memo, first reported by Fox News, which directed visa officers to rely on existing provisions of US immigration law to refuse applications while the review is ongoing.

The suspension applies to multiple visa categories and will remain in effect indefinitely until the reassessment is concluded.

Countries affected by the decision cut across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America. They include Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia, Brazil and Thailand, among others.

The policy shift is closely linked to the enforcement of the “public charge” rule — a long-standing element of US immigration law that allows authorities to deny visas to individuals considered likely to rely on public welfare benefits.

In November 2025, the State Department had issued fresh guidance to its embassies and consulates worldwide, directing stricter application of the rule. The updated guidance expanded the criteria consular officers must assess, including applicants’ age, health condition, English language proficiency, financial capacity, employment prospects and the likelihood of requiring long-term medical care.

Applicants deemed at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance are liable to have their visa applications refused.

Somalia has reportedly drawn heightened scrutiny following a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, where US prosecutors uncovered widespread abuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programmes. Federal authorities said many of those implicated were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans, a development that reportedly influenced the tougher stance on visa screening.

Although Nigeria was not specifically singled out in the memo, its inclusion places it among countries now facing stricter immigration controls, at a time when thousands of Nigerians apply annually for US student, work, tourist and family-based visas.

The US State Department has yet to provide a timeline for the completion of the review or clarify whether exemptions will apply for humanitarian or special cases.

The development is expected to create uncertainty for prospective travellers, students and families, particularly from developing countries, and could further strain people-to-people relations between the United States and the affected nations.

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