US stops immigrant visa processing for Nigeria, Russia 73 other countries

The United States State Department has announced a temporary pause on visa processing for 75 countries, including Nigeria.

The move comes as officials review visa applications to ensure that applicants are financially independent and not likely to rely on U.S. government assistance. This is known as being a “public charge” under U.S. immigration law.

A memo obtained by Fox News Digital instructs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reviews screening and vetting procedures.

The affected countries include Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand, Yemen, and others.

The pause is set to take effect on January 21, 2026, and will remain in place indefinitely until the reassessment is complete.

Somalia has been a subject of heavy scrutiny following a major fraud scandal in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered large-scale abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs.

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According to Fox, many individuals implicated in the case were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.

In November 2025, a State Department cable instructed consular officers to enforce new rules under the so-called “public charge” provision of immigration law.

U.S Designates Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, as Terrorist Organisations, a standard known as being a “public charge” under U.S. immigration law.

The guidance allows visa denials for applicants considered likely to rely on public benefits, with factors including health, age, English proficiency, financial stability, and potential need for long-term medical care.

Older or overweight applicants could face higher scrutiny, along with those with a history of government cash assistance or institutionalization.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott.

“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would rely on welfare and public benefits,” he added.

While the public charge rule has existed for decades, its enforcement has varied across administrations.

Historically, consular officers have had broad discretion in applying the standard.

According to the memo, exceptions to the current pause will be “very limited” and only granted to applicants who pass public charge evaluations.