The United States has suspended all routine visa services at its embassy in Niamey, Niger’s capital, until further notice. A State Department cable dated July 25, seen by Reuters, confirmed the pause but did not specify the reasons behind it.
The suspension covers all immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, though most diplomatic and official visas remain exempt. A State Department spokesperson said the pause remains in place while Washington addresses “concerns with the Government of Niger.”
Consular officers worldwide were ordered to apply heightened scrutiny to visa applications from Nigerien nationals, citing high overstay rates. Visitor visas have an 8% overstay rate, while student and exchange visas face a 27% overstay rate, the cable revealed.
Consular managers were urged to reduce overstays by Nigerien visa holders and exercise particular vigilance during adjudications. The embassy in Niamey has informed all affected individuals, the spokesperson added.
This move comes amid the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown, which includes increased deportations of migrants and stricter visa vetting. Officials have accused some visa holders of supporting groups hostile to U.S. interests, linking certain student visa holders to pro-Hamas activities.
In May, Senator Marco Rubio reported revoking thousands of visas, part of a broader tightening of social media checks for applicants. The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Niger in September 2024 after the country’s junta demanded the removal of nearly 1,000 troops.
Niger was once a vital partner in Washington’s fight against Sahel insurgents, but last year’s coup dramatically shifted that alliance. The suspension of visa services adds a new layer of tension to already strained U.S.-Niger relations in a volatile region.