What New US Travel Restrictions Mean for Nigerians With Valid Visas

Nigerians are concerned after the United States announced new travel restrictions affecting visa applications. The rules, signed by President Donald Trump, suspend new visa applications for several key categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. 

These visas cover most short-term travel from Nigeria to the US, including business trips, tourism, studies, and exchange programs.

However, Nigerians who already hold valid US visas are not affected by the ban. Lawful permanent residents, certain athletes, some US government employees, and dual citizens travelling on other passports are also exempt. This means those with existing visas can still travel to the US without restriction.

The White House explained the decision with several reasons. Security concerns in parts of Nigeria, including threats from Boko Haram and the Islamic State, were cited. Authorities also mentioned difficulties in screening applicants and high visa overstay rates—5.56% for B visas and almost 12% for F, M, and J visas.

The ban only affects new visa applications. Nigerians hoping to travel for tourism, studies, or business now face uncertainty, as the US embassy in Abuja has not provided detailed guidance on the next steps for applicants.

This latest restriction comes after earlier moves in July, when the US embassy reduced the validity of most Nigerian non-immigrant visas to three months with single-entry limits. While similar measures for other countries were lifted, Nigeria’s restrictions have remained.

For now, Nigerians with valid visas can continue their travel plans. Those applying for new visas will need to wait for further updates as diplomatic discussions continue. 

The US is also preparing to introduce stricter social media checks for future visa applicants, requiring a review of five years of online activity.

In short, existing visa holders are safe, but new travelers should stay alert and follow updates from the US embassy.