US Freezes All Visa Processing For 75 Countries, Nigeria and Many Others

The United States government has announced the suspension of visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Nigeria, effective January 21, 2026.

The directive was outlined in a memo from the US State Department obtained on Wednesday.

The policy instructed US Embassies and Consulates to refuse visa applications from nationals of the affected countries under existing law while the department conducts a comprehensive reassessment of its screening, vetting, and immigration procedures. The suspension, according to reports, will remain in effect indefinitely until the review was completed.

In a statement reflecting the administration’s stance, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News that the pause was aimed at bolstering enforcement of long-standing rules against admitting foreign nationals deemed likely to become a “public charge”, individuals who may rely on US government welfare and benefits after entry.

“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” the spokesperson said.

The suspension came amid a broader immigration crackdown pursued by US President Donald Trump since assuming office for the second time in January 2025. In November 2025, he pledged to “permanently pause” migration from what he termed “Third World Countries” following a high-profile security incident near the White House.

Here under are the 75 countries affected by the visa processing suspension:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yemen