The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reassured applicants that visa and passport services will not be suspended despite the ongoing partial shutdown of the US government.
In a notice shared via its official X handle on Wednesday, the embassy explained: “Due to the lapse in appropriations, this X account will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information. At this time, scheduled passport and visa transit services in the United States and at U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits.”
It further noted that its social media platforms would only share urgent safety updates until funding is restored.
The clarification comes amid concerns among Nigerians that the shutdown in Washington might disrupt visa processing, student travel schedules, and other consular activities.
The shutdown, triggered by a budget deadlock between US lawmakers and President Donald Trump over health care funding, has forced several federal agencies to suspend operations. Trump defended the decision, insisting it would help cut Democratic-backed programmes.
While essential services such as the military, postal service, and social welfare schemes like Social Security and food stamps remain unaffected, up to 750,000 federal workers risk being furloughed daily without pay until a deal is reached, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
This is the first shutdown since the record-breaking 35-day closure nearly seven years ago under Trump’s first term. The United States has recorded 21 shutdowns since 1976, when the modern budget system was introduced.
For consular updates on visa and passport applications, Nigerians are advised to check travel.state.gov.
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