BREAKING: U.S. Embassy in Nigeria Quietly Revokes Valid Visas, Leaving Citizens Stranded

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has initiated the revocation of valid visas previously issued to Nigerian citizens, causing significant disruptions for professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travelers, and families. This development has left many individuals stranded, with canceled plans and mounting financial losses.

According to reports, affected individuals have received official letters from the embassy in recent weeks, instructing them to submit their passports at the consulate in Lagos or Abuja. Upon submission, their visas were summarily canceled without explanation [1] .

The revocations have been carried out under Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 41.122, which allows for visa cancellations if new information becomes available after issuance. However, the lack of transparency and absence of detailed explanations have raised concerns among the affected individuals [2] .

This move follows recent changes in U.S. visa policies for Nigerian citizens. In July 2025, the U.S. Embassy announced a revised visa policy, limiting most non-diplomatic non-immigrant visas to three months with a single-entry allowance [3] . The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed concerns over these changes, describing them as “misaligned with the principles of reciprocity, equity, and mutual respect” that ought to govern bilateral engagements between friendly nations [4] .

The sudden visa cancellations have had profound impacts on the lives of many Nigerians. Some individuals discovered their visas had been revoked only upon attempting to travel, leading to canceled engagements, financial losses, and emotional distress [2] .

As the situation unfolds, affected individuals and advocacy groups are calling for greater transparency and dialogue between the U.S. and Nigerian governments to address the concerns arising from these visa revocations.

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Citations:

1. The Guardian Nigeria: guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/nigerian-professionals-families-stranded-as-u-s-cancels-visas/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Business Insider Africa: africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/nigerian-us-visa-holders-quietly-blocked-from-entry-as-investigations-unfold/gy01792?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. U.S. Embassy Nigeria: ng.usembassy.gov/revised-visa-reciprocity-policy-for-nigeria/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. The Guardian Nigeria: guardian.ng/news/fg-asks-u-s-to-reconsider-new-visa-rules/?utm_source=chatgpt.com