Pat Stevens/
The United States government will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, effective January 21, 2026, in a move officials say is designed to prevent migrants likely to rely on public benefits from entering the United States.
The announcement, made by the U.S. State Department, states that the pause will remain in place until the administration can “ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”
The directive instructs consular officers globally to refuse immigrant visas under existing law while officials reassess eligibility screening procedures.
Among the affected nations are several African countries, with Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Somalia, Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Uganda included.
The inclusion of Ghana has drawn particular surprise, given its relative economic stability and historically lower rates of welfare reliance among migrants to the U.S.
The full list of affected countries is: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea.
Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo.
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Nigeria and Ghana have historically been significant sources of migrants, students and business travellers to the United States. Nigerian and Ghanaian nationals receive a high share of U.S. immigrant visas in Africa, and the freeze will affect spouses, parents, siblings, workers, and prospective students seeking permanent residence.
While non-immigrant visas are not formally affected, heightened scrutiny may slow other consular services and dissuade applicants.
For Nigeria, the pause threatens remittance flows that support families and local economies, potentially reducing household income and foreign exchange inflows.
Ghana, often seen as economically more stable, has nonetheless been included, raising questions about the criteria used to determine public charge risk.
Social media reactions have shown both confusion and frustration among Ghanaian and Nigerian communities, highlighting the policy’s far-reaching social implications.
The freeze comes at a time when remittances from the diaspora are crucial for household incomes and national foreign exchange reserves. For students, the pause creates uncertainty about studying in the United States, potentially pushing qualified candidates toward the UK, Canada, or continental Europe.
Families are concerned about long-term separation and the viability of family reunification, as recent visa limitations have already lengthened wait times and demanded stricter proof of financial stability.
Civil society groups have criticised the decision as discriminatory, saying it unfairly targets citizens of developing countries without clear evidence linking migration patterns to welfare abuse.
Analysts warn that the policy may also strain diplomatic relations, especially if dialogue between the U.S. and affected countries is limited.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued a formal response, though previous statements emphasised reciprocity in visa relations and the importance of bilateral engagement.
Ghana’s government is expected to seek clarification and assurances on how this policy will affect ongoing migration and economic cooperation.
The State Department has not set a timeline for resuming normal visa operations.
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