Nigeria ranks as the hardest-hit country under new United States immigration rules, with thousands effectively barred from obtaining non-immigrant visas annually.

Under the new policy, Nigerians are barred from entering the US as immigrants or on several non-immigrant visa categories, including B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), combined B-1/B-2, F (academic studies), M (vocational studies) and J (exchange programmes). The policy targets 39 countries including Nigeria, Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti.

According to US immigration data, Nigerians were issued over 15,000 green cards in 2023 alone, representing the largest immigrant population among the newly restricted countries. However, the impact extends beyond permanent residency, with an average of 128,000 Nigerians receiving non-immigrant visas each year between FY 2015 and 2024, excluding COVID-affected years.

These non-immigrant visas, primarily consisting of tourist and student visas, are now partially barred under the new restrictions. The implication of the policy has been swift as a Nigerian Reddit user, identified as ‘Moose8321,’ shared his experience of having his naturalization oath ceremony, the final step to becoming an American citizen, cancelled just one day before it was scheduled to take place.

“Oath ceremony cancelled. My country of birth was added to the partial restricted country list released yesterday. I was scheduled to have my oath ceremony tomorrow after waiting for almost 45 days since my interview was approved. Got an email that my oath has been cancelled today. I’m so sad,” the user wrote.

Also, under the new ban, US consulates will refuse adoption visas for babies from all 39 affected countries, including Nigeria, effectively ending international adoptions from these countries irrespective of the circumstances of the children involved. Once the ban takes full effect, American citizens who marry individuals from Nigeria, Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, or any of the 35 other restricted countries will be unable to bring their spouses to the United States on any visa category. (The Sun)

Update news