President Donald Trump's administration has announced strict new visa restrictions in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria.
The new policy issues almost all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas to these four African nationals, limiting them to a single entry that is valid for just three months, the BBC reported.
This is an important rEducation from previous conditions that grant a multi-entry visa valid for more than two years.
Newsweek contacted the US State Department by email for comment.
Getty Images
Why is it important?
Visa restrictions introduce immediate hurdles for travelers, professionals and students from four countries looking to visit or study in the US.
US officials said the move was motivated by concerns about both security and visa interactions.
The change follows a series of new travel restrictions placed by the White House in Africa and mostly Muslim countries.
What do you know
According to the revised policy, citizens of Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria will receive a single input three-month visa for most travel, replacing previous US practices that allowed multiple entries over a much longer period of time.
The State Department describes the change as a “reorganization of global interactions” and seeks to match the visa conditions that these countries provide to American citizens.
The department has revealed that these policies are “subject to continuous reviews” and could change pending progress in areas such as issuing safe travel documents, suppressing visas, and sharing law enforcement data.
Nigeria is the top source of international students to the US in Africa, up 13.5% year-on-year, according to the 2024 Open Doors report on International Education Exchange. Some officials and supporters fear that stricter visa rules could disrupt the flow of education.
Last month, the US suspended all immigrant and non-immigrant visas for Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan citizens, further tightening border and visitors' policies. Social media screenings for all visa applicants also institute signs of “hospitality towards U.S. citizens, culture, government, institutions, or establishment principles.”
Trump's administration has previously issued extensive travel and visa restrictions targeting the majority of countries, particularly Africa, the Middle East and Muslims. In June, the administration gave 36 countries an ultimatum that would improve review and documentation and face potential travel bans.
What people are saying
Onanuga's Bioga, a spokesman for the Nigerian President, said on Thursday that “we would like to repeat that the claims of the US government's reciprocity as a reason for the current visa policy towards Nigeria do not accurately reflect the actual situation.”
A US State Department spokesman told Newsweek: “The State Department is committed to protecting our country and its citizens by supporting the highest standards of national security and public safety through the visa process.”
What will happen next
The US State Department said Visa policies will remain regular reviews and can be adjusted if affected countries implement mutual improvements or meet new security standards.
