The United States Mission Nigeria has clarified that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid visas will not be affected by the partial visa suspension outlined in Presidential Proclamation 10998, set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
In a statement posted Monday on X, the mission reassured affected individuals that holders of currently valid F1 and J1 visas can continue their academic and exchange programmes in the United States.
“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.
Titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the proclamation introduces a partial suspension of certain visa categories for Nigerian nationals beginning at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026.
The suspension applies to:
Nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas
F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas
Immigrant visas, with limited exceptions
However, U.S. authorities emphasised that the measure targets foreign nationals who are outside the United States as of the effective date and who do not hold a valid U.S. visa by January 1, 2026.
Officials stressed that visas issued before the deadline will not be revoked under the proclamation.
The clarification is expected to ease concerns among Nigerian students and exchange participants who feared their existing F1 and J1 visas might become invalid once the policy is implemented.
An F-1 visa is issued to international students enrolled full-time in academic programmes at U.S. institutions, while a J-1 visa covers exchange visitors, including students, researchers, and interns participating in approved cultural or educational programmes.
Nigeria is among 19 countries listed under the partial suspension scheduled for implementation in 2026.
In recent months, Washington has introduced several immigration-related measures affecting Nigerians. Earlier this year, the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians was reduced to single-entry visas with a three-month duration. In October, Nigeria was also added back to a U.S. list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, followed by inclusion on a revised travel restriction list imposing partial entry limitations.
Earlier in February, the U.S. Mission warned that visa overstays by Nigerian travellers could jeopardise travel opportunities for other citizens.
For now, however, the mission maintains that Nigerian students and exchange visitors with valid F1 and J1 visas remain free to pursue their studies and programmes in the United States beyond January 1, 2026.
