By Our Correspondent
Nigerian parents with children schooling in the United States of America can now heave a sigh of relief after U.S. authorities clarified that Nigerian and other foreign students holding valid J1, F1 visas will not be barred from entering the country.
For many families, the past weeks felt like standing at an airport departure gate with crossed fingers, unsure whether allowing their children to come home for Christmas would mean risking their return to school abroad. That cloud of uncertainty has now lifted, bringing respite to both anxious parents and students eager to resume their studies.
The United States Mission in Nigeria on Monday stated that holders of valid F1 and J1 visas remain eligible to travel and study in the U.S., despite the partial visa suspension introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
Nigerian students and exchange participants with currently valid F1 and J1 visas are not affected by Presidential Proclamation 10998. Students and exchange participants with visas can continue to contribute to learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions,” the mission said in a post on X.
The clarification follows the January 1, 2026, implementation of the proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
Nigeria is among 19 countries listed under the partial suspension, a move that initially triggered widespread concern among students and their families about possible travel restrictions and re-entry complications.
Fear had escalated after earlier U.S. immigration measures reduced the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry visas with a three-month duration. The changes fueled speculation that student visa holders might also face tighter restrictions, prompting some parents to reportedly discourage their children from travelling home during the holidays.
However, the latest statement by the U.S. Mission has drawn a clear distinction between the broader visa adjustments and the status of students and exchange visitors with valid documentation. With that reassurance, thousands of Nigerian families can now look forward to smoother travel plans, confident that academic pursuits in the United States remain uninterrupted.