Nigeria, Russia Among 75 Countries Affected As US Pauses Visa Processing
The United States has paused visa processing for applicants from Nigeria, Russia and at least 73 other countries as it moves to tighten immigration screening over concerns about welfare dependence.
According to an internal memo from the US Department of State, consular officers have been directed to halt visa processing for the affected countries from January 21, pending a broad reassessment of screening and vetting procedures. The memo was first reported by Fox News.
Under the directive, visa officers are instructed to refuse applications using existing provisions of US immigration law while the review is underway. The pause applies to multiple visa categories and will remain in effect indefinitely until the reassessment is completed.
Countries impacted 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.
The policy shift is linked to the “public charge” rule, a long-standing component of US immigration law that allows authorities to deny visas to individuals deemed likely to rely on public benefits. In November 2025, the State Department issued guidance to US embassies worldwide calling for stricter enforcement of the rule.
That guidance expanded the criteria consular officers must consider when evaluating visa applicants, including age, health status, English-language proficiency, financial capacity, employment prospects and the potential need for long-term medical care. Applicants assessed as having a high risk of becoming dependent on public assistance may be denied entry.
Somalia has drawn particular scrutiny following a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered widespread abuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programmes. Federal officials said many of those implicated were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans, a development that heightened scrutiny of visa applications connected to the country.
Although Nigeria was not specifically cited in the memo, its inclusion places it among nations now facing stricter migration controls. This comes at a time when large numbers of Nigerians apply annually for US student, work, tourist and family-based visas.
The State Department has not announced a timeline for completing the review or clarified whether humanitarian exemptions will be granted.
The move is expected to create uncertainty for prospective travellers, students and families, particularly from developing countries, and may further strain diplomatic relations and people-to-people ties between the United States and the affected nations.
