US suspends immigration processing for candidates from 39 journey ban nations – however F, J, and M visa processing will proceed – ICEF Monitor

Breaking information for 14 January: This article covers the US authorities journey bans and suspension and overview of immigration programmes affecting nationals from 39 nations. On 14 January, the federal government introduced a further choice to expand the pause on immigration processing for nationals from 75 countries starting on 21 January 2026. We can make clear that this extra coverage doesn’t apply to non-immigrant visas reminiscent of J, F, M, and H. It applies solely to immigrant visas. The following article focuses on present US insurance policies that have an effect on worldwide college students from 39 nations hoping to return to the US or to increase their keep within the US.

In 2025, the US authorities imposed, then prolonged, journey bans and restrictions affecting nationals from nations deemed high-risk by way of the safety of American pursuits and safety. As of this writing, the listing – detailed in Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998 – is now 39 nations lengthy, together with 19 nations whose residents’ entry to the US is barred and 19 whose residents face restrictions on entry. The remaining affected group (absolutely barred) are individuals who try to enter with Palestinian Authority-issued journey paperwork.

The journey ban and restrictions have an effect on incoming guests, staff, and college students. But the listing has different functions as nicely. Effective instantly, if a visa holder already within the US is from one of many nations on the listing, they face huge hurdles to their skill to safe or lengthen desired immigration advantages. According to the US Department of Homeland Security’s coverage memorandum, “Hold and Review of USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Aliens from Additional High-Risk Countries,” they will see their application land in a pile called “adjudicative hold.” In other words, their application will not be processed in the foreseeable future.

This includes people wanting to extend their visa status and students applying for (or hoping to extend) Optional Practical Training (OPT), the post-study work permit for F-1 international students, and those eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Other visa categories affected by the hold include the H-1B programme and the Academic Training work programme for J-1 visa holders. Adjudications of Green Card applications submitted by nationals of the 39 affected countries are also on hold. While the government states that Green Card replacement requests may be honoured as an “exemption”, immigrant experts are uncertain about this.

Indefinite hold, additional review and vetting

The government has not said how long it plans to suspend the processing of immigration applications for the affected visa-holders. During the pause, it will “conduct a comprehensive review of all policies, procedures, and screening and vetting processes for benefit requests for aliens from [the affected] countries.” Further, US Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel are directed to “conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests implicated in PP 10998 that were approved on or after January 20, 2021.”

The reasons given for the pause are that action must be taken to clamp down on “high overstay rates, significant fraud, or both,” as well as the need to protect the security of the United States. In a December press release commenting on Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998, NAFSA said: “The proclamation’s rationale is based in part on visa overstay rates that are known to be deeply flawed. Using inaccurate data to justify a policy that has such far-reaching consequences for U.S. global engagement is misleading.

“The administration’s latest actions will undoubtedly prevent some of the world’s best and brightest students from contributing to US predominance in research, science, and innovation. This is yet another grave misstep that will have long-lasting consequences on U.S. global competitiveness.”

The case of Nigeria

In all, there are tens of 1000’s of scholars affected by Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998 and the related suspension of immigration advantages for these already within the United States. The lion’s share of those are Nigerians.

Nigerians – on the restricted listing and now topic to immigration doc maintain and overview guidelines – should not solely an more and more essential total supply of enrolments for US greater schooling establishments (the eighth largest contributor in 2024/25 with 21,850 college students enrolled), however they’re additionally a significant supply of STEM expertise.

About half of all Nigerian college students within the US are in STEM fields, and Nigerian college students now make up the sixth largest group of worldwide college students in STEM OPT (2,785 in 2024/25), following solely Indians, Chinese, South Koreans, Nepalis, and Taiwanese. Nigerian college students’ significance to US STEM innovation is highlighted by the truth that of these top six countries represented in STEM OPT enrolments, India, Nepal, and Nigeria have been the one progress markets for US educators in 2024/25.

Trump insurance policies considerably affecting demand or the US

In October 2025, the New York Times analysed worldwide scholar developments within the US beneath President Trump. Overall, there was a 19% drop in worldwide college students travelling to the US in August 2025 versus August 2024. But the falloff was a lot steeper for some markets:

• India: -44%
• Nigeria: -48%
• Ghana: -51%

The decline from China was not as steep (-12%) however provided that China contributes extra college students than another nation than India, the drop is notable.

The New York Times notes: “Data from SEVIS showed that the fall spike in international student enrollment from countries with a travel ban was nearly 70 percent smaller this year.”

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