The United States Mission Nigeria has clarified that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid F1 and J1 visas will not be impacted by the partial visa suspension set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
In a statement posted on its official X account on Monday, the mission reassured affected individuals that existing visas remain valid despite the impending enforcement of Presidential Proclamation 10998.
“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 U.S. colleges and institutions,” the mission stated.
The proclamation, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” is scheduled to be implemented at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026.
Under the directive, the United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain visa categories to Nigerian nationals.
However, U.S. authorities have emphasised that the suspension applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not possess a valid U.S. visa as of January 1, 2026.
Officials further clarified that individuals, including those outside the United States, who already hold valid visas by the effective date will not be subject to the restrictions. “No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” authorities stated.
Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the partial suspension announced in December 2025.
The development follows a series of immigration-related measures introduced by Washington in recent months that have affected Nigerian travellers.
Earlier in 2025, the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians was reduced to single-entry visas with a three-month duration.
In October, the United States reinstated Nigeria on its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom. The move was subsequently followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised U.S. travel restriction list imposing partial entry limitations.
The latest clarification is expected to ease concerns among thousands of Nigerian students and exchange participants who feared that their academic pursuits could be disrupted once the proclamation takes effect.
An F-1 visa is issued to international students enrolled full-time in academic programmes at accredited U.S. schools and universities, while a J-1 visa covers approved exchange visitor programmes, including research and cultural exchange initiatives.
Earlier in February, the U.S. Mission warned that visa overstays by Nigerian travellers could negatively affect travel opportunities for other citizens seeking entry into the United States.
For now, the diplomatic mission has maintained that holders of currently valid F1 and J1 visas may continue their studies and exchange programmes without interruption after January 1, 2026.
