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The United States Mission in Nigeria said on Monday that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid visas will not be affected by the partial visa suspension under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
Holders of currently valid F-1 and J-1 visas are still permitted to study and take part in exchange programmes in the United States, the mission said in a post on X.
The F-1 visa is issued to international students enrolled full-time in academic programmes at U.S. schools or universities. The J-1 visa is issued to exchange visitors, including students, researchers and interns, participating in approved educational or cultural exchange programmes.
“Nigerian students and exchange participants with currently valid F1 and J1 visas are not affected by Presidential Proclamation 10998,” the mission said.
“Students and exchange participants with visas can continue to contribute to learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions.”
Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 1, 2026.
Under the proclamation, the United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain visas to Nigerian nationals, including B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas, and immigrant visas with limited exceptions.
U.S. authorities said the measure applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not hold a valid U.S. visa as of January 1, 2026.
Officials added that visas issued before the effective date will not be revoked under the proclamation.
“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.”
Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the partial suspension scheduled to begin in January 2026.
The mission had earlier warned that visa overstays by Nigerian travellers could affect future travel opportunities for other citizens.
