The United States Mission in Nigeria has clarified that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid visas will not be affected by the partial visa suspension under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a post on X on Monday, the mission stated: “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 US colleges and institutions.”
F1 and J1 visas are non-immigrant categories issued to foreign nationals for academic study and exchange programmes in the United States.
The clarification comes months after the United States announced a partial suspension of certain visas for Nigerian nationals, effective January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998 titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
The restrictions took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and apply to 19 countries, including Nigeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, and Zambia.
The proclamation imposes a partial suspension on the issuance of nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, and J student and exchange visas, as well as certain immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.
Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport from a non-affected country, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for eligible US government employees, participants in major international sporting events, and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs).
The suspension applies only to foreign nationals outside the United States on the effective date who do not hold a valid US visa.
$15,000 visa bond
In January, the US Department of State also introduced a refundable visa bond of up to $15,000, effective January 21. Nigeria is among 38 countries whose nationals may be subject to the requirement.
US authorities cited security concerns, including the activities of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in parts of Nigeria, which they said create “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”
Under the directive, applicants otherwise eligible for B1/B2 visas may be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, with the amount determined during the visa interview.
Applicants must submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through the US Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. The requirement applies regardless of where the application is submitted.
US officials said the bond is a compliance measure, not an additional visa fee. It is intended to ensure that visa holders adhere to the conditions of their stay, including departing the United States within the authorised period.
The policy follows concerns over visa overstays and non-compliance, particularly involving countries with historically higher overstay rates.
