By JKNewsMedia
PROLONGED VISA processing delays have left more than 300 Nigerian students unable to begin their studies in the United States, despite securing admission into various American universities and attending embassy interviews weeks ago.
Members of a WhatsApp group comprising 301 affected students raised alarm over what they described as a deeply frustrating situation, with many now at risk of missing school resumption dates, which began on 1 August for several institutions.
They noted that the backlog comes amid restrictive immigration policy changes under President Donald Trump’s administration, which have altered the procedures for reviewing and issuing international student visas.
In May, the US government halted the scheduling of new F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa interviews globally, pending the implementation of enhanced vetting protocols, the group disclosed.
Under the revised rules, which took effect from 18 June, all applicants must submit social media handles used over the past five years and make those accounts publicly accessible.
Any content interpreted by consular officers as anti-American, antisemitic, or suggestive of extremist leanings can lead to visa denial without further explanation, the US government affirms.
Alongside the new vetting measures, a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” is now applicable to all non-immigrant visa categories, including students. The fee was introduced through the “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law by President Trump.
A further shift in the US immigration policy seeks to limit the duration of student visas to between two and four years, replacing the previous “duration of status” framework that allowed international students to remain in the US for as long as they maintained valid enrolment.
Affected Nigerian students, including those accepted into Ivy League institutions, say the delay has placed immense strain on their academic plans.
Abdul Oluwa, a student admitted to a university in Ithaca, stated that he felt “confused and overwhelmed” as uncertainty continued to mount.
Other reports indicate that applicants from other African countries have started receiving their student visas, and this has become a development that has heightened concerns among Nigerian applicants about the status of their own applications, the waiting students lament.
Affected candidates also said that with school already in session for many institutions, the delay is expected to impact attendance and tuition compliance for them.
As thing stand, no official statement has been issued by the US embassy in Nigeria regarding the specific cause or timeline for resolving the backlog, they said.
