January 14, (THEWILL) — The United States has announced a sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, effective January 21, 2026.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the decision on Wednesday, January 14, stating that the pause is part of a broader administration effort to reassess screening and vetting procedures.
In a series of statements, the U.S. State Department explained that the freeze targets nations whose immigrants have been assessed as becoming “public charges” at what the administration deems unacceptable rates.
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the department stated.
This latest measure, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stems from a November 2025 directive that significantly tightened the “public charge” rule.
Under these guidelines, consular officers are instructed to deny visas to applicants likely to depend on public assistance, considering factors such as financial assets, health, age, and English proficiency.
The suspension applies specifically to immigrant visas (permanent residency) and does not currently affect non-immigrant categories such as temporary tourist (B1/B2) or business visas.
However, for Nigerians, the B1/B2 category is already subject to a separate “visa bond” pilot program starting January 21, which may require certain applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000.
Nigeria and Ghana are listed alongside several other African nations, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Uganda. Other global powers affected by the pause include Russia, Brazil, and Pakistan.
U.S. officials have not provided a timeline for when processing might resume, noting that the “indefinite pause” will remain until a full reassessment of immigration procedures is completed to ensure the “generosity of the American people is no longer abused
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