New U.S. Visa Restrictions Set to Take Effect in Early 2026 for 19 Nations

The U.S. Department of State has announced plans to partially suspend visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries beginning January 1, 2026.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports the move is in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10998, which aims to restrict and limit the entry of foreign nationals to enhance U.S. national security.

The affected countries include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The suspension impacts nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas, with certain exceptions.

Exceptions to the suspension encompass immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with a passport of a non-suspended country, participants in specific major sporting events, and U.S. government employees applying under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are also exempt.

The proclamation applies only to foreign nationals outside the United States on the effective date who do not hold valid visas at that time.

Individuals already holding valid visas as of January 1, 2026, are not affected, and no visas issued before the effective date will be revoked under this policy.

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Applicants subject to the suspension may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews, but approval for issuance or admission may be denied.

This policy marks a notable shift in U.S. immigration and visa procedures, emphasizing national security considerations amid ongoing global complexities.

The announcement made on U.S Mission website reads; “Effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions for:

Immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran
Dual nationals applying with a passport of a nationality not subject to a suspension

Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for U.S. government employees under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(D)
Participants in certain major sporting events

Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)
Presidential Proclamation 10998 only applies to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date AND do not hold a valid visa on the effective date (January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST).

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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.

Visa applicants who are subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998 may still submit visa applications and schedule interviews, but they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States”.