U.S. suspends New student visa interviews worldwide, impacts Nigerian applicants

The United States government has announced a worldwide suspension of the scheduling of new student visa interviews, a move that will directly affect Nigerian applicants and thousands of other aspiring international students seeking to study in the U.S.

According to a report by Politico, the directive was issued on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who instructed American embassies and consulates across the globe to halt new appointments for student visa applicants, including the popular F-1 visa category.

The decision is linked to plans by the U.S. government to introduce more rigorous screening measures, particularly around the vetting of applicants’ social media profiles, as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued septel, which we anticipate in the coming days.”

As a result, U.S. embassies in Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) and many other countries will no longer schedule new interviews for students until further notice. While those with existing appointments may not be immediately affected, the development is expected to create significant delays and uncertainty for aspiring international students preparing to begin academic programs in the U.S. this fall.

This policy shift has sparked concern among students and educational consultants in Nigeria, many of whom say they were already facing challenges due to long wait times and limited appointment slots at U.S. consulates.

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Education experts warn that the move could disrupt academic plans for many students and place financial pressure on families who have already made tuition deposits or secured admission offers from American universities.

While the U.S. government has not provided a definitive timeline for when interviews will resume, the State Department has indicated that the new vetting process is aimed at strengthening national security and ensuring only credible applicants are granted student visas.

Observers suggest that this development could prompt more Nigerian students to consider alternative study destinations such as the UK, Canada, or Australia, where visa procedures currently remain relatively stable.

As of now, Nigerian students with pending applications or plans to apply for the fall 2025 academic session are strongly advised to stay in close contact with U.S. embassy channels and official State Department websites for updates and guidance.