The US has imposed a new travel ban restricting immigration from Nigeria, and five other countries in an expansion of Donald Trump’s administration policy to curb immigration. Citizens from Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar are blocked from obtaining certain types of visas. This was announced on the 31st January 2020 by the White House.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and the most populous country on the continent with 200 million people, and which boasts strong ties to the US.
Key Note
- The Immigration ban is only for people who want to migrate from Nigeria to the United States. The regular non-immigration visas (tourist and work visas) are still on. B1/B2 for conferences, workshops, holidays, among others are still very VALID.
- The new ban becomes effective from the 21st February 2020. Hence, it does not affect those who have already received immigration visa.
- Reasons for the ban on Nigeria is that Nigeria has failed to meet US security and information-sharing standards
- Nigeria’s government has reacted by issuing a statement saying they will work with the “US Government, INTERPOL and other stakeholders to ensure all updates are properly implemented,” President Buhari’s spokesman Femi Adesina said in a statement released to CNN.
- Nigerian immigrants in the US are considered one of the most successful and educated immigrant groups in the country.
- It is not clear if waivers or exceptions would be issued and, if so, when and under what conditions.
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