More than 300 Nigerians who have gained admission into universities in the United States have expressed frustration over their inability to obtain student visas, despite undergoing embassy interviews after a month and weeks.

The students, in a WhatsApp group with 301 members, lamented the prolonged visa delays, stating that they faced an uncertain future.

The delay comes amid President Donald Trump’s administration efforts to control immigration, which brought changes into how international student visas are reviewed and issued.

The US government had ordered a suspension of student visa processing, the Trump’s administration also moved to bar Harvard University from admitting non-Americans.

In May, the US government halted the scheduling of all new F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa interviews worldwide.

The move was to accommodate new vetting protocols that include expanded screening of applicants’ social media histories.

Starting from June 18, students were required to submit all social media handles used in the last five years and set those accounts to public visibility.

More than 300 Nigerians who have gained admission into universities in the United States have expressed frustration over their inability to obtain student visas, despite undergoing embassy interviews after a month and weeks.

The students, in a WhatsApp group with 301 members, lamented the prolonged visa delays, stating that they faced an uncertain future.

The delay comes amid President Donald Trump’s administration efforts to control immigration, which brought changes into how international student visas are reviewed and issued.

The US government had ordered a suspension of student visa processing, the Trump’s administration also moved to bar Harvard University from admitting non-Americans.

In May, the US government halted the scheduling of all new F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa interviews worldwide.

The move was to accommodate new vetting protocols that include expanded screening of applicants’ social media histories.

Starting from June 18, students were required to submit all social media handles used in the last five years and set those accounts to public visibility.

An X user, @OwolabiClassic, a Nigerian PhD student admitted for Fall 2025 at a U.S. university, called on the Nigerian government to intervene, stating that students could no longer endure the visa delay.

Owolabi in his post seen by Saturday PUNCH stated, “I am writing as one of many Nigerian students recently admitted into fully funded PhD programs in the United States for the Fall 2025 academic session, scheduled to begin this August.

“Despite fulfilling all application requirements and completing visa interviews over a month ago, a significant number of us are still awaiting F-1 visa approval due to prolonged administrative processing.

“While consular officers initially indicated a two-week turnaround, it has now been over six weeks with no clear updates. Several applicants, particularly at the Abuja embassy, have had their passports returned without explanation or timeline.”

He alleged that while Nigerian students faced extended waiting periods, applicants from other countries often receive visa decisions within just three to 10 days.

“With resumption less than three weeks away, many Nigerian students have not been able to book flights or prepare for international relocation, leaving our academic futures hanging in uncertainty,” he lamented.

Owolabi decried the lack of communication from visa officers regarding the status of their applications. (PUNCH)He stated, “The absence of communication and clarity calls for high-level diplomatic engagement to ensure this situation does not result in missed academic opportunities for an entire cohort of scholars.

“We respectfully appeal to your esteemed office to consider looking into this matter and engaging with the appropriate authorities, to support a more efficient and transparent visa processing experience for Nigerian students.”

Messages sent to the email addresses of the US Consulates in Lagos and Abuja had not received any response as of the time this report was filed.

Explaining diplomatic regulation, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, told Saturday PUNCH that the US had the right to deny or grant visas.

Ebienfa added that the Nigerian government had no authority over how the US grants visas to applicants.

He stated, “Pertaining to visa, it is the issuing country that has the final say. No country can force another country to issue its national visa. Most times, the issuing country might not state the reason for denial. It is an exclusive matter. If the Nigerian government denies anybody a visa, we do not have reasons to state why we deny the person visa.

“So, if they satisfy the requirements and they are not issued visas, there is nothing the applicant’s country can do. That is the standard based on diplomatic relations.”

However, Ebienfa noted that the Federal Government could only intervene if its officials going for a government function were denied.

He said, “If there are representatives of the government going to an official function, that is different. But going to school, they have authority to attest or deny.”

Speaking on the matter, the Chief Executive Officer of a foreign education firm, Cardinal E-School and Edu Services, Mr Sulaimon Okewole, acknowledged the right of the US to its visas, but stated that the country should timely give feedback to the students.

He said while students from other countries received their visas within two weeks, Nigerian students were left waiting for months, which he described as unfair.

Okewole said, “The US has left countless Nigerian visa applicants with uncertainty. These are students hoping to study, businesspeople seeking opportunities, and families planning reunions. Yet, after paying nearly N300,000 in fees and submitting their passports, they hear no feedback. No visa, no explanation, not even their passports returned. Meanwhile, citizens of other countries get their visas without delay.

“Why this unfair treatment? If the US Embassy does not want to grant Nigerians visas, that is their right; but holding people’s passports for months without communication is unacceptable. A passport is not just a document; it is a person’s freedom, and their chance to travel, work, or study elsewhere.”

Decrying the prolonged visa issuance, Okewole said, “Nigerians demand answers: Why the delay? Why the silence? At the very least, return people’s passports immediately.”

Similarly, a travel agent, Omolola Oke, described the US student visa application process as frustrating.

She said the US was known for the act of delaying visa approvals.

Oke stated, “Honestly, the US student visa process can be quite frustrating. There are often delays that we agents have no control over, and the in-person interview part really puts a lot of pressure on students. It feels outdated like in 2025, we’re still being judged based on appearance, body language, or how nervous someone seems in three minutes.

“Delays do happen, especially during peak seasons or if there are additional administrative processing requirements. However, we always ensure our clients are well-prepared before their interviews from document checks to mock sessions so that any delay is rarely due to missing documents or errors on their part.

“US student visa delays have been happening for years; it’s not new. They’re often caused by high application volumes, limited interview slots (especially in countries like Nigeria), administrative checks, or minor documentation issues. That’s why working with an experienced agent really helps students stay prepared and avoid unnecessary setbacks.”

Decrying the US embassy’s style of visa processing, she said, “Other countries have moved on to more digital and merit-based systems, but the US still makes it feel like you’re being evaluated on things that have nothing to do with your documents or qualifications.” (PUNCH)