The United States Mission in Nigeria has clarified that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid visas will not be affected by the partial visa suspension under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a post on X on Monday, the mission stated that Nigerian students and exchange participants with currently valid F1 and J1 visas can continue their studies and research in the United States. “Students and exchange participants with visas can continue to contribute to learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions,” the statement read.
The clarification comes ahead of the January 1, 2026, implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” The proclamation partially suspends the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals, including nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, and immigrant visas with limited exceptions.
U.S. authorities emphasized that the suspension applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and do not hold a valid U.S. visa as of January 1, 2026. “Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998. No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the statement added.
Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the partial suspension, which aims to restrict the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States.
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The U.S. Mission’s clarification comes amid concerns among Nigerian students and exchange visitors about the validity of their F1 and J1 visas following the proclamation. For now, holders of these visas can continue participating in educational and cultural exchange programs in the United States.
Earlier this year, the U.S. introduced additional immigration measures affecting Nigerians, including reducing the validity of most non-immigrant visas to single-entry visas with a three-month duration and re-adding Nigeria to a list of countries accused of violating religious freedom.
The mission also reminded Nigerian travellers that visa overstays could negatively affect opportunities for other citizens seeking to travel to the United States.
F1 visas are for international students enrolled full-time in U.S. academic programs, while J1 visas are for exchange visitors, including students, researchers, and interns, participating in approved educational or cultural exchange programs.