US student visa delay for Nigerians leaves over 300 applicants stranded, anxious about university resumption as embassy silence heightens frustration
US student visa delay for Nigerians has left over 300 university-bound students stranded and uncertain, sparking growing frustration as resumption deadlines approach.
Also read: US student visas resume with new rules
Despite completing interviews and submitting the required documents including social media histories many Nigerian applicants say they have not received updates from the US embassy weeks after their scheduled appointments.
Most of the affected students belong to a WhatsApp group titled “Administrative Processing Support Group,” where they share updates and frustrations. With schools in the US resuming from August 1, many say they are in academic limbo.
Abdul Oluwa, admitted to an Ivy League university in Ithaca, shared his frustration: “It’s been 45 days since my interview, and no word from the embassy.
Flights are expensive, school resumes this week, and my academic future is at stake.”
For Tobi, a University of New Mexico student, the silence is even more worrying. “My friends from Ghana and Bangladesh already got their visas. Mine is stuck since July 1.”
Affected students say the visa delays began after new US policies under the Trump-era “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which added rigorous social media screening, capped student visa duration to 2–4 years, and introduced a new \$250 “Visa Integrity Fee.”
The US also mandated public visibility of all social media activity over five years — a policy students say may have further slowed down approvals.
Olu Seyi, another student whose case remains unopened since June 13, said, “Our passports are being held hostage. We’re missing out on opportunities.”
PhD candidate @OwolabiClassic took to social media, urging Nigerian authorities to intervene diplomatically. “Many of us are fully funded and yet, we’re stuck. Some have had their passports returned without explanation,” he posted.
The US student visa delay for Nigerians appears to affect mainly applicants from Nigerian consulates in Lagos and Abuja, while applicants from other African nations receive responses in as little as three to ten days.
While the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledges applicants’ concerns, spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa clarified that the country has no authority over how the US grants visas. “Visa decisions are exclusively the right of the issuing country,” he said.
Meanwhile, education consultant Sulaimon Okewole criticized the embassy’s lack of communication. “Nigerians pay high fees, yet hear nothing for months. A passport is a person’s right, not just paper.”
Travel agent Omolola Oke also described the process as outdated and stressful. “Applicants are judged on body language and appearance during a short interview. In 2025, this feels archaic.”
She urged applicants to prepare thoroughly and consult professionals to avoid mistakes that might trigger administrative processing the common cause of delays.
The situation leaves many hopeful scholars in distress. With resumption dates fast approaching, unanswered emails, stagnant application statuses, and the rising cost of flights, their academic dreams now hang by a thread.
Also read: US tightens student visa rules, makes public social media mandatory for F M and J visa applicants
Until there’s clarity from US authorities, the US student visa delay for Nigerians remains a troubling barrier for hundreds pursuing education abroad.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
