US Suspends Work Visas for Nigerian Truck Drivers, Others, Gives Reasons
- The U.S. government has suspended work visas for Nigerian and other foreign truck drivers, citing safety concerns and job protection for American citizens
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy, which takes immediate effect under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration clampdown
- Applicants from countries with high visa overstay rates will also be required to pay up to $15,000 in bonds, while Nigerians must now disclose five years of social media history
The United States government has halted the issuance of work visas for Nigerian and other foreign truck drivers. Officials say the measure is meant to protect local jobs and address rising safety concerns on American highways.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Thursday, August 12, 2025, that the suspension takes immediate effect. He said the presence of foreign truck drivers has created both economic and security risks.
Source: Twitter
“Effective immediately, we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers. The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio stated.
Trump takes tough stance on immigration
The decision follows President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown since his return to office in January 2025.
Washington has rolled out tougher rules targeting countries with high visa overstay records and weak travel data systems.
One of the new conditions requires applicants from such countries to post a bond ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 dollars before they can obtain certain categories of visas.
U.S. consular officials say the bond will act as a safeguard to discourage overstays and non-compliance.
Nigerians' social media history now required
In Nigeria, the U.S. Embassy has introduced additional requirements for applicants. Individuals seeking visas must now disclose their social media handles from the past five years.
Source: Twitter
Failure to provide accurate details, the embassy warned, could result in outright denial and possible ineligibility for future applications.
5 new requirements for US visa applicants
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria have introduced new visa application requirements, effective April 22, 2025, for interviews in Abuja and Lagos. The changes are aimed at improving efficiency and ensuring accurate processing of visa interviews held in Abuja and Lagos.
Applicants must bring a DS-160 form with a barcode that exactly matches the one used during appointment scheduling, or risk being denied entry.
Errors with the DS-160 form must be corrected via the AVITS portal at least 10 days before the appointment, and new fees may apply if rescheduling is required.
UK visa application: New locations announced
Previously, Legit.ng earlier reported that the UK visa application process in Nigeria is undergoing a major change as VFS Global takes over as the supplier of visa application centres.
UKinNigeria announced the update on X, advising customers that during the transition, some may need to submit and collect their documents at different locations. Affected customers will be notified via email.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
