Overview
If you are from Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or one of dozens of other countries and you have been planning to study in the United States, the rules changed in 2026. Many students only find out when they reach the visa stage.
Presidential Proclamation 10998 took effect on January 1, 2026, more than doubling the reach of the June 2025 travel ban. It covers 39 countries across two tiers, and for most students the practical result is the same: new US student visas are not being issued.
This guide covers what the proclamation says, who is exempt, what current students should do, and where affected students can realistically study instead.
The Two Tiers: Full and Partial Suspension
Full suspension (19 countries plus Palestinian Authority documents): Visa issuance is fully suspended for nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, and for people travelling on documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.
Partial suspension (20 countries): Issuance of immigrant visas, B-1/B-2 visitor visas, and F, M, and J student and exchange visas is suspended for nationals of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Turkmenistan is the 20th country, but the December proclamation lifted its restrictions on B, F, M, and J visas while keeping the suspension on immigrant visas.
For the partial-suspension countries, consular officers are also directed to reduce the validity of all other nonimmigrant visas as far as the law allows.
| Tier | Student visas (F, M, J) | Tourist visas (B) | Work visas (H, L, O, etc.) | Immigrant visas |
| Full suspension (19 + PA) | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended |
| Partial suspension (e.g., Nigeria) | Suspended | Suspended | Still possible, shorter validity | Suspended |
What "Partial" Really Means for Students
Many readers see the word "partial" and assume student visas are still available. They are not. From a student's point of view, the full and partial tiers work the same way, because F-1 and J-1 are both on the suspended list for partial countries. That includes the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Global UGRAD, the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship, and the J-1 au pair program, all of which use J-1 visas.
Who Is Exempt
The most important exemption is timing. The proclamation applies only to people who were outside the United States on January 1, 2026 and did not hold a valid visa on that date. Anyone who held a valid visa on that date is not covered, even if they were outside the US, and no visa issued before that date has been revoked under the proclamation.
You can technically still apply. The US Mission in Nigeria has confirmed that applicants covered by the proclamation may still submit applications and schedule interviews, but they may be found ineligible for issuance or admission. In practice, that means paying non-refundable fees for a visa you are very unlikely to receive. Do not spend that money without first speaking to your intended school's international office.
If You Are Already Studying in the US
Current students from affected countries who are inside the US with valid status are not affected, but that protection can be lost if they leave. Universities are advising affected students that visa renewal and re-entry are not guaranteed after international travel, and that they should consult their international office or an immigration attorney before any trip.
In practical terms, if your F-1 visa stamp has expired, do not travel home for the holidays until you have had a documented conversation with your DSO. Remaining in the US in valid status with an expired visa stamp is allowed. Getting a new stamp abroad is the problem.
How Long Will This Last?
There is no end date. The proclamation has no expiry. It requires the Secretary of State and other agencies to review the restrictions within 180 days of December 16, 2025 and every 180 days after that, and to recommend whether each suspension should continue, end, or change.
Courts have pushed back on related policies, but not on the ban itself. On June 5, 2026, a federal court in Rhode Island ruled that USCIS's internal processing holds tied to these proclamations were unlawful. The government has appealed, and the underlying entry ban remains in effect. That ruling helps people with applications already pending inside the US. It does not reopen consular visa issuance abroad.
If Your Country Is Not on the List: What Changed Anyway
Students from India, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Pakistan, the Philippines, and other countries not on the list can still apply for F-1 visas, but the process is stricter than it was two years ago:
- In-person interviews are the norm. Since October 1, 2025, nearly all F-1 applicants, including renewals, must attend an in-person interview after the State Department rolled back pandemic-era interview waivers.
- Your social media is reviewed. The State Department tells F, M, and J applicants to set all social media profiles to public, and the DS-160 asks for social media identifiers used in the previous five years. Officers do not ask for passwords.
- Fees are higher. On top of the $185 non-refundable MRV fee and the $350 SEVIS fee, some consular posts have started charging the new $250 Visa Integrity Fee, collected only after a visa is approved. Rollout has been uneven, so confirm with your consulate before the interview.
Budget at least $785 in government fees per student visa, before courier, travel, and document costs.
Where Affected Students Can Study Instead
If the US is closed to you for now, these are the strongest alternatives:
United Kingdom. The UK has no equivalent restriction on Nigerian students, and the fully funded Chevening Scholarship is open to Nigerian applicants. See our Chevening 2027/2028 guide (the deadline is October 6, 2026). Note that UK Graduate visas will shorten from two years to 18 months for applications made from January 1, 2027, while PhD graduates keep three years.
Germany. Public universities in most German states charge no tuition to international students, and the DAAD EPOS scholarship funds development-focused master's degrees for professionals from eligible countries, including Nigeria. See our Germany study guide.
Malaysia. Malaysia is increasingly popular with African students: visa approval rates are high, tuition and living costs are moderate, and a Graduate Pass lets graduates work for 12 months after finishing their studies, a scheme currently extended to the end of 2026.
Work routes that remain open. Nationals of partially restricted countries may still obtain certain work visas, so the seasonal routes covered in our H-2A farm jobs guide remain technically possible for Nigerians, although with shorter visa validity.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming "partial restriction" means student visas are still available. For F, M, and J visas, they are not.
- Paying the SEVIS fee, MRV fee, and a non-refundable school deposit before confirming your country's status.
- Current students travelling home without speaking to their DSO first.
- Believing agents who claim they can "bypass the ban" for a fee. There is no legitimate workaround for consular issuance.
- Assuming the list is permanent. It is reviewed every 180 days, so keep checking.
FAQ
Can Nigerians get a US student visa in 2026?
Generally, no. Nigeria is on the partial-restriction list, which suspends new F, M, and J visas for Nigerian nationals who were outside the US without a valid visa on January 1, 2026.
I received a US scholarship. Does that change anything?
No. Scholarships and visas are separate processes. A full scholarship does not create an exemption from the proclamation.
Can I still apply for Fulbright as a Nigerian?
Fulbright participants travel on J-1 visas, which are suspended for Nigerian nationals. Check directly with the US Mission in Nigeria's Public Affairs Section about the status of the current Fulbright cycle.
Does the ban apply to dual citizens?
It depends on the passport you travel on. Dual nationals should get legal advice before applying.
Will the restrictions be lifted?
They are reviewed every 180 days, so changes are possible, but there is no announced end date.
Practical Tips
- Check the State Department's official announcement for your country before paying any US application fee.
- Apply to at least one UK or European programme in parallel with any US plans.
- If you are a current US student from an affected country, do not travel internationally without written advice from your DSO.
- Keep copies of your valid visa, I-20, and I-94 at all times.
- Revisit this issue every six months, when the restrictions come up for review.
Immigration rules are changing quickly. Always confirm your situation on travel.state.gov, the US embassy website for your country, or with your school's international student office before acting.
