The United States State Department has announced plans to pause visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, over concerns that applicants from the affected countries are more likely to depend on welfare and public benefits.
According to the department, the pause will take effect from January 21, 2026, and will remain in place indefinitely while a comprehensive reassessment of immigrant visa screening and vetting procedures is conducted.
The decision is expected to affect applicants from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Countries listed for the suspension include Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia, Brazil, and Thailand, among others.
The policy follows remarks earlier this year by President Donald Trump, who released data on welfare dependency rates among immigrant households.
The figures indicated that approximately 33.3 per cent of Nigerian immigrant households in the United States had received some form of public assistance.
A State Department memo, first reported by Fox News Digital, directed US embassies and consular officers worldwide to refuse visas under existing “public charge” laws while the department reviews current procedures.
Under the directive, visa applicants may be denied if they are deemed likely to become a public charge. Factors cited include age, health status, financial capacity, English proficiency, and any previous use of government cash assistance or long-term institutional care.
The memo also notes that applicants requiring extensive medical support could be considered inadmissible.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the move is aimed at preventing the exploitation of US public resources.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” he said.
In November 2025, a State Department cable instructed consular posts to strictly enforce expanded screening rules under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
While the public charge provision has existed for decades, enforcement has varied across administrations.
However, the Trump administration significantly broadened its application in 2019, bringing a wider range of public benefits under scrutiny.
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