US Freezes Visa Processing for Nigeria and 74 Other Countries Over Welfare Concerns

The United States government has announced plans to temporarily halt visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Nigeria, due to concerns that applicants from these nations may rely heavily on public welfare and government assistance if admitted.

According to information released by the US State Department, the suspension is expected to take effect from January 21 and will remain in place indefinitely, pending a comprehensive reassessment of immigrant visa screening and approval procedures.

The decision affects applicants from several regions of the world, including Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, marking one of the broadest visa-related actions in recent years.

Nigeria Among Countries Affected

Nigeria is listed among the countries impacted by the proposed visa pause, alongside nations such as Somalia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia, Brazil, and Thailand, among others.

The move follows earlier data released by US President Donald Trump, which outlined welfare dependency rates among immigrant households. According to that data, approximately 33.3 percent of Nigerian immigrant households were reported to have received some form of public assistance in the United States.

New Screening and Public Charge Enforcement

A confidential memo from the US State Department, first reported by Fox News Digital, instructed American embassies and consular offices worldwide to intensify enforcement of existing public charge laws while visa processing procedures undergo review.

Under the directive, visa officers have been advised to refuse applications from individuals deemed likely to depend on public benefits after entering the United States. The assessment includes factors such as age, health condition, financial stability, English proficiency, past use of government assistance, and long-term medical needs.

The guidance further states that applicants who are older, overweight, or have a history of receiving government cash assistance or institutional care may face visa denial under the revised enforcement standards.

State Department Justifies the Decision

Speaking on the policy, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott explained that the department is exercising its long-standing legal authority to prevent individuals who may become a financial burden on the American welfare system from entering the country.

According to Piggott, immigration from the affected countries will remain suspended while the department reviews and strengthens screening measures aimed at protecting public resources and ensuring that new immigrants are financially self-sufficient.

Background of the Public Charge Rule

The public charge provision has been part of US immigration law for decades, allowing consular officers to declare applicants inadmissible if they are likely to rely on government assistance. However, enforcement has historically varied across different administrations.

In 2019, President Trump expanded the interpretation of the rule to cover a broader range of public benefits, leading to stricter visa assessments. By November 2025, a State Department cable circulated globally directed consular officers to apply enhanced screening measures under the same provision.

The Immigration and Nationality Act continues to grant visa officers wide discretion in determining admissibility, but the latest directive represents one of the most aggressive implementations of the public charge rule to date.