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Nigerian students with valid F1 and J1 visas safe from US visa suspension under Proclamation 10998.
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Partial visa restrictions affect foreign nationals outside the US without valid visas as of January 1, 2026.
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US Mission assures students can continue studies, research, and exchanges at American institutions.
The United States Mission in Nigeria has clarified that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid visas will not be affected by the recent partial visa suspension introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Mission reassured visa applicants and holders that the new measures do not apply to current F1 (student) and J1 (exchange visitor) visa holders.
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“Nigerian students and exchange participants with valid F1 and J1 visas are not affected by Presidential Proclamation 10998.
“They can continue to contribute to learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions,”the Mission stated
The clarification follows the January 1, 2026, implementation of Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States”.
Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the partial suspension, which targets foreign nationals outside the US without valid visas at the effective date.
The suspension covers nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, and immigrant visas, with some exceptions. Officials emphasized that foreign nationals holding valid visas on January 1, 2026, will not have their visas revoked.
This announcement comes amid several US immigration measures impacting Nigerians, including shortened non-immigrant visa durations and Nigeria’s recent inclusion on revised US travel restriction and religious freedom lists.
