In a sharp policy reversal, the U.S. State Department has empowered consular officers abroad with sweeping authority to deny visa applications based on fears that immigrants might become a "public charge" reliant on government aid.
This directive, outlined in a cable sent to U.S. embassies this week, rolls back the more lenient approach under President Joe Biden.
His 2022 guidelines had narrowed the rule's scope, focusing solely on direct cash aid and extended nursing home stays.
It spared widely used programs like food assistance (SNAP), health coverage (Medicaid), rental subsidies, and nutrition support for moms and kids (WIC).
But the new instructions echo the expansive 2019 version from Donald Trump's administration, which cast a wider net over benefits like Medicaid and SNAP.
That policy faced court challenges and was dismantled by Biden in 2021 amid legal battles.Now, officials are directed to perform "comprehensive and thorough vetting," scrutinizing every financial document applicants submit from bank statements to sponsor affidavits.
No more quick approvals; expect deeper dives into an applicant's ability to support themselves without tapping public funds.For everyday Nigerians eyeing U.S. visas, whether university-bound students, job-hunting professionals, or grandparents reuniting with family ,the shift spells trouble.
Rejections could spike, and wait times stretch even longer at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or consulates in Lagos.
"It's like closing the door on dreams that were already hard to reach," said one Lagos-based visa consultant, speaking anonymously.
Advocacy groups warn it could disproportionately hit low-income families from Africa, where proving financial stability often hinges on informal support networks rather than fat bank accounts.
The State Department insists the goal is "protecting American taxpayers," but critics call it a veiled barrier to legal immigration.
As global migration pressures mount, this cable could reshape countless Nigerian lives turning "welcome" into "wait and see."
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