Nigeria at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Not eligible |
| Entry restrictions | Partial: some visas suspended |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | U.S. Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos process nonimmigrant visas. Immigrant visas are processed in Lagos. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Nigeria right now
- Partial entry restriction since January 1, 2026: immigrant visas and visitor (B-1/B-2), student (F, M) and exchange (J) visas are suspended, with limited exceptions.
- Nigerian visitor visa applicants may be required to post a visa bond.
- Nigeria was on the State Department's pause on immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries that started January 21, 2026. A federal court set the pause aside in August 2026; the government's appeal was still pending in October 2026.
- A 2026 USCIS hold on applications from travel-ban nationals was ruled unlawful by a federal court in June 2026; an appeal is possible.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Nigeria
Family petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsEB-2 NIWSelf-petition green card if your work benefits the U.S.EB-1A green cardSelf-petition green card for extraordinary abilityH-1B visaWork visa for specialty jobs, sponsored by a U.S. employerF-1 student visaStudy at a U.S. college, university or language schoolAsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home country
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Nigeria visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Nigeria is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Nigeria get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Nigeria nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Nigeria and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Nigeria enter the green card lottery?
Nigeria was not eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, and someone born in Nigeria may still qualify through a spouse born in an eligible country.
Where do people from Nigeria have their visa interview?
U.S. Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos process nonimmigrant visas. Immigrant visas are processed in Lagos.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Nigeria?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in Africa
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.