PUNCH
More than 300 Nigerians who have gained admission into universities in the United States have expressed frustration over their inability to obtain student visas, despite undergoing embassy interviews after a month and weeks.
The students, in a WhatsApp group they created and named “Administrative Processing Support Group,” with 301 members, lamented the prolonged visa delays, stating that they faced an uncertain future.
The delay comes amid President Donald Trump’s administration efforts to control immigration, which brought changes into how international student visas are reviewed and issued.
The US government had ordered a suspension of student visa processing, the Trump’s administration also moved to bar Harvard University from admitting non-Americans.
In May, the US government halted the scheduling of all new F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa interviews worldwide.
The move was to accommodate new vetting protocols that include expanded screening of applicants’ social media histories.
Starting from June 18, students were required to submit all social media handles used in the last five years and set those accounts to public visibility.
Any activity that consular officers interpret as anti-US, antisemitic, or linked to extremism can be grounds for denial without a detailed explanation.
Compounding the pressure, a newly introduced $250 “Visa Integrity Fee”, signed into law as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” by Trump is now required in all non-immigrant visa categories, including student visas.
There is also a revived push to cap student visa terms at two to four years, ending the long-standing “duration of status” policy that allowed students to stay as long as they maintained valid academic enrollment.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that many of the affected applicants may struggle to meet school resumption deadlines, with most institutions set to resume on August 1 (yesterday).
Findings revealed that applicants from other African countries were receiving their visas, raising concerns among many Nigerian applicants about the status and outcome of their applications.
A student enrolled at one of the Ivy League universities in Ithaca, Abdul Oluwa, expressed frustration, saying his school resumes in August.
Oluwa noted that he was confused and overwhelmed, saying things were not getting easier for him again.
He said, “I was interviewed at the Lagos embassy on June 17 by a male American VO who promised that I will get my visa after two weeks. He told me they only needed to vet my social media accounts which I provided in my application. From then till today, which makes it exactly 45 days, there has been no communication from the embassy.
“I keep wondering why I was fated to experience this, because if he had worked on my case, I would have known that I have had two years multiple entry visa before the changes on July 8. On July 8, the US began a reciprocal visa and started issuing a three months single entry visa. Yet, this officer is unmoved to approve our visas.
“Many students are already prepared for the semester which begins in August. I can’t prepare because I don’t know what’s going on anymore. Flight costs are getting more expensive as the semester approaches.”
Also, a student of the University of New Mexico, who only identified as Tobi, decried the delayed visa processing.
He stated that while students from other countries had their visas processed, Nigerian were still left waiting.
“I had my interview on July 1, 2025 at the US Embassy in Lagos. I wanted to book my flight the following day thinking the administrative processing would not go beyond two weeks. I was however advised to wait till approval before I book my flight.
“My friends in other countries (Ghana and Bangladesh) that I did my interview with have all got their visas approved and issued,” he added.
Lamenting the delay, Tobi said his school was set to resume in August and he was scheduled to take an exam that same month.
“My school’s resumption date is August 16. Although, my department said there is an exam I have to take starting from August 11. There are other orientations I have to attend in that week too. This means I am meant to have been in the school community at least a week before then.
“My department has been sending emails repeatedly to me to know when I will arrive. They need to make plans for my arrival. Now that I have been kept on suspense for too long, I don’t know what to do.
“They never opened my case since the day of my interview. There’s a portal to check your case update. Mine was last updated on the day of my interview. Aside from the compulsory $350 for SEVIS fee, I paid N299,000,” he lamented.
Another student, Olu Seyi, said they were missing out on other opportunities due to the prolonged wait for their visas.
He said, “Up till now, there has been no update from the embassy (the last visible update according to someone was on June 20th) and many people are losing other opportunities because their passports are being held unto.
“I had my interview on June 13, 2025 at the US embassy, Abuja. During the interview, I was informed that I would be placed on Administrative Processing for social media review and they would get back to me before my class start date. My school start date is August 11, meaning I am required to be in school at least some days before this.”Related News
An X user, @OwolabiClassic, a Nigerian PhD student admitted for Fall 2025 at a U.S. university, called on the Nigerian government to intervene, stating that students could no longer endure the visa delay.
Owolabi in his post seen by Saturday PUNCH stated, “I am writing as one of many Nigerian students recently admitted into fully funded PhD programs in the United States for the Fall 2025 academic session, scheduled to begin this August.
“Despite fulfilling all application requirements and completing visa interviews over a month ago, a significant number of us are still awaiting F-1 visa approval due to prolonged administrative processing.
“While consular officers initially indicated a two-week turnaround, it has now been over six weeks with no clear updates. Several applicants, particularly at the Abuja embassy, have had their passports returned without explanation or timeline.”
He alleged that while Nigerian students faced extended waiting periods, applicants from other countries often receive visa decisions within just three to 10 days.
“With resumption less than three weeks away, many Nigerian students have not been able to book flights or prepare for international relocation, leaving our academic futures hanging in uncertainty,” he lamented.
Owolabi decried the lack of communication from visa officers regarding the status of their applications.