- The U.S. Mission Nigeria confirmed that currently valid F-1 and J-1 visas will not be revoked.
- New restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998 primarily affect new applicants outside the United States.
- Visa holders already in programs can continue their research and learning at American institutions without interruption.
(NIGERIA) — The United States Mission Nigeria confirmed on February 23, 2026 that Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid F-1 and J-1 visas will not be affected by new U.S. visa restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
“Nigerian students and exchange participants with currently valid F1 and J1 visas are not affected,” the mission said, adding that eligible holders can continue contributing to “learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions.”
The assurance targeted a fast-moving concern for Nigerians already studying, teaching, or conducting research in the United States, as well as exchange visitors who already hold visas and travel plans tied to fixed academic calendars and program start dates.
Presidential Proclamation 10998 partially suspended the issuance of certain nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to Nigerian nationals, under restrictions that took effect January 1, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. EST.
The proclamation partially suspended the issuance of new B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J academic and exchange visas, as well as certain immigrant visas to Nigerian nationals.
Officials emphasized that the restrictions focus on people outside the United States who did not already have a valid visa at the moment the restrictions took effect.
That applicability rule matters for Nigerians who already hold visas, and for families and institutions trying to understand whether the policy changes immigration status inside the United States or instead narrows who can receive a visa and travel.
The mission’s statement framed the announcement as continuity for those already cleared to travel, rather than a shift that automatically changes the situation of current students and exchange visitors inside the country.
Officials also emphasized that no visa issued before the January 1, 2026 deadline has been or will be revoked under the measure.
That point addressed worries among Nigerians already enrolled across American universities, who had expressed concerns about potential disruption to their legal status.
For students and exchange visitors, the protection message turns on timing and documentation: a visa issued before the effective moment remains valid under the proclamation, and the U.S. Mission Nigeria said current F-1 and J-1 holders are not targeted by the restrictions.
Even with that assurance, the practical burden on students and programs remains tied to routine compliance expectations that exist outside the proclamation itself, including continuing to meet school or exchange-program requirements while in the United States.
The proclamation’s reach extends beyond academic and exchange travel and includes partial restrictions affecting B-1/B-2 visitor visas and certain immigrant visas for Nigerian nationals.
Beyond the specific classes named in the proclamation’s partial suspensions, consular officers are authorized to reduce the validity of other nonimmigrant visas issued to Nigerians to the extent permitted by law.
In day-to-day terms, that authority can shape how long a visa remains valid or how it is issued, depending on the category and the applicant’s circumstances, even when a category is not fully suspended.
The U.S. Mission Nigeria also linked the proclamation-era discussion to compliance, pointing to Washington’s focus on adherence to visa conditions.
The mission previously warned that visa overstays by Nigerian travelers could undermine opportunities for other applicants, a message that applies across categories, not just students or exchange visitors.
Taken together, the messages from the mission draw a line between two groups: Nigerians who already hold valid visas, including F-1 and J-1 visas, and Nigerians who remained outside the United States without a valid visa when Presidential Proclamation 10998 took effect.
For those in the first group, the mission’s February 23, 2026 assurance signals that study and exchange plans tied to valid documents can continue, including participation in U.S. colleges and institutions that depend on predictable arrivals for each term.
For those in the second group, the proclamation’s partial suspensions can affect whether a new visa can be issued at all in certain classes, including B-1/B-2 visitor visas and certain immigrant visas, as well as F, M and J categories listed in the measure.
The mission’s statement also separates the question of having a visa from the question of maintaining status after entry, a distinction that students and exchange visitors often face in planning travel, renewals, and program timelines.
New applicants, meanwhile, face uncertainty that turns on category and timing, including whether they had a valid visa at the effective moment and whether their intended travel fits within a class whose issuance is partially suspended.
The mission’s approach urged readers to interpret the announcement in a straightforward way: valid visas issued before the effective moment remain protected from revocation under the proclamation, while other applicants can encounter restrictions tied to visa class and individual circumstances.
As Nigerian families and institutions digest the proclamation’s scope, the U.S. Mission Nigeria’s message sought to steady those already in U.S. classrooms and exchange programs, even as other travel and immigration pathways face partial limits under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
