The US Embassy has officially announced the temporary closure of its Abuja branch as well as the Lagos Consulate General in observance of the upcoming Christmas celebrations and the holiday season. This notice was shared publicly to ensure that both Nigerian citizens and foreign nationals planning visits or appointments are adequately informed in advance.
The announcement was posted on the US Embassy’s official X account, highlighting the dates of closure and resumption of normal operations. The embassy advised the public to plan accordingly to avoid inconveniences during this period, as all consular services, including visa applications, document processing, and emergency services, will be unavailable during the stated closure dates.
Details Of The Tweet
In the tweet dated December 23, 2025, the US Embassy clarified that both the Lagos Consulate General and the Abuja Embassy will be closed beginning Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and will remain closed through Friday, December 26, 2025. Embassy officials also stated that all operations and services are expected to resume on Monday, December 29, 2025, allowing staff and the public to return to normal business hours following the festive period.
The tweet read: “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, December 26, 2025. We will resume normal work operations on Monday, December 29, 2025.” The embassy further reminded applicants that no consular services would be available during this closure period, urging individuals to plan their travel and visa appointments accordingly.
Earlier reports indicated that President Donald Trump had issued a visa ban targeting Nigeria, which has contributed to changes in visa issuance procedures for Nigerian nationals. The ban, announced in December 2025, restricts both immigrant and non-immigrant visas, affecting student, business, and other categories of travel. The US government cited persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing as the rationale for these restrictions, highlighting the need for stricter oversight of visa applicants from Nigeria.
The visa ban is scheduled to take effect starting January 1, 2026, and applies to all Nigerian nationals outside the US who do not already hold valid visas. This has created urgency for applicants who may have been planning to travel early next year, as new requirements and additional scrutiny are now in place.
In addition to the visa ban, the US government introduced new mandatory social media checks for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants beginning December 15, 2025. These measures require applicants to provide detailed information about their social media accounts to enhance background screening processes. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also tightened oversight for H-1B visas, prioritizing higher-skilled and higher-paid workers to ensure compliance with new regulatory standards. These adjustments aim to strengthen the integrity of the US immigration system while ensuring that only eligible applicants are granted entry for work or study purposes.
Given these changes, Nigerian applicants are advised to stay informed on the latest procedures and to schedule appointments with sufficient lead time. The embassy emphasized that applicants should monitor official announcements to avoid disruptions during the holiday closure and to ensure compliance with the newly implemented requirements for visas, social media verification, and H-1B applications.
See tweet and official notice below for reference…
