- The US State Department has announced it will pause issuing immigrant visas to citizens of Nigeria and 74 other countries over concerns that they may rely on public assistance in the future
- In a post on social media, the US government said immigrants from the list of countries “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”
- The list, which includes US allies and adversaries, alongside several top destinations for American travellers, was later posted on the US State Department’s website
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering world news and global affairs.
Washington, USA – The State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries in an effort to crack down on applicants deemed likely to become a public charge.
As reported by Fox News, a State Department memo directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures.
Source: Getty Images
US pauses immigrant visa processing
CNBC also noted that nationals of the affected countries are considered likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.
The countries include Somalia, Nigeria, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand, Yemen and more.
The full list of countries affected are listed below:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Antigua
- Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia
- Brazil
- Burma
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Macedonia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen.
Source: Getty Images
Nigerians react to US visa suspension
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media reacted to the development.
Legit.ng captured some X (formerly Twitter) comments below:
“After Tarrif war Trump is actually looking for another means to compare state actors to make more deals with America.”
“A passport is a reflection of state credibility. Years of weak governance, poor migration controls, document fraud, visa overstays, and globally visible cybercrime have damaged Nigeria’s trust profile. Countries respond to patterns, not exception and so even the best of us are punished for failures we did not create.
“Until Nigeria fixes its governance and the world abandons lazy profiling, we will keep losing not for lack of talent, but for lack of trust.”
@neyduwon said:
“Wow this is going to cause some troubles.”
Senator Shehu Sani commented:
“In the latest US Visa restrictions, Nigeria and Nigerians are affected, and South Africans are exempted despite all their attacks on Trump and the imperialist sycophancy of some of our people. The US shouldn’t be blamed. Those who dragged us here are those who think that by campaigning against their country, they would be spared, insulated, rewarded or adopted.
“Nigerians studying, living, working, or just visiting the US have become victims caught up in this mess. No 30 pieces of silver for those who led us here.”
Read more US news:
Turkey seeks inclusion in Nigeria’s e-visa
Legit.ng earlier reported that Turkey requested to be included in Nigeria’s electronic visa system as part of efforts to ease travel and strengthen business and diplomatic exchanges between both countries.
The request came during a courtesy visit by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Officials said the ambassador emphasised that inclusion in Nigeria’s e-visa system would enhance business mobility and attract more Turkish investors and traders to the country.
Source: Legit.ng
Source link
