US Halts Immigrant Visa Applications Worldwide, Nigeria Faces Fresh Uncertainty

The administration of US President Donald Trump has paused immigrant visa applications worldwide as Washington moves to tighten screening of applicants it considers likely to rely on US public assistance, a development that could further complicate visa processing for Nigerians and other foreign nationals.

The US State Department confirmed the global pause, saying it was introduced to allow consular officers to undergo “in-depth training” aimed at ensuring applicants are evaluated more rigorously and consistently. The Financial Times reported that the move has already disrupted scheduled interviews, with some applicants receiving cancellation notices.

The latest action comes amid a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which has introduced tighter screening, visa restrictions and measures targeting applicants deemed likely to become a “public charge”.

For Nigeria, the development adds to existing restrictions. The US State Department has already imposed partial visa suspensions on Nigerian nationals for certain nonimmigrant categories and all immigrant visas, subject to limited exceptions, under a presidential proclamation that took effect in January 2026.

The State Department also introduced a public-charge bond process in August, allowing consular officers in selected cases to require immigrant visa applicants to obtain a bond before a visa can be issued. The department said the procedure is intended to ensure immigrants are financially self-sufficient and not likely to become a burden on the US.

The latest pause follows a federal judge’s ruling against an earlier administration policy that sought to restrict visa processing for applicants from 75 predominantly poorer countries on public-charge grounds. The judge ruled that the policy exceeded the statutory authority of the Secretary of State, according to the Financial Times.

Applicants have expressed concern over the disruption caused by the latest move, particularly those who had already paid for travel, medical examinations and other preparations for scheduled interviews.

Brian Simmons, an attorney at immigration law firm Fragomen in Washington, told the Financial Times that many affected applicants had likely spent thousands of dollars and disrupted their lives to attend interviews that were subsequently cancelled.

The Trump administration has also expanded scrutiny of visa applicants, including reviews of social media activity and additional vetting requirements. The State Department has separately been realigning visa operations in Africa to designated regional hubs, including changes affecting routine visa services in Abuja from August 1, 2026.

The administration has also moved against asylum seekers who entered the US initially on tourism or business visas before seeking asylum, with State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott describing obtaining a visa for the purpose of seeking asylum as fraud and grounds for visa revocation.

The White House has described the visa revocation initiative as potentially affecting up to 200,000 visas, although the State Department has not confirmed that figure, saying the number remains dynamic and that revocations will be carried out on a rolling basis.

The tightening of US immigration policy has raised concerns among immigration advocates and lawyers over uncertainty for applicants whose appointments have been cancelled and who do not know when new interview dates will become available.

Constitutional law expert, Livingstone Wechie, told our correspondent on Wednesday that the latest development should prompt African countries to strengthen their economies and reduce dependence on Western countries.