The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has told a federal court that concerns about Nigerian documents being unreliable and public officials falsifying records prompted its decision to implement policies to halt the processing of green card, work permit, and other immigration benefit applications for Nigerian citizens. This policy affects pending cases currently in the adjudication pipeline.
What changed
The deputy director of USCIS, Angelica Alfonso-Royals, stated this in her declaration submitted on Friday at the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, defending the agency’s policies placing pending benefit applications of Nigerians and nationals of 38 other countries on hold.
In her court filing, USCIS stated that it conducts screening and vetting, and found that some naturalization and permanent residence applications had previously been approved based on unreliable information, with affected countries possessing little to no credible identity management infrastructure. The deputy director specifically noted that “Nigerian documents also have limited credibility due to corruption” and that “in Nigeria, it is common for government officials to falsify records.” USCIS also flagged that “Nigerian birth and death registrations rarely happen at the time of the event and often only occur when needed, which can be years later.”
Why it matters
This policy freezes forward progress on pending applications. If you have a Nigerian national client with a pending green card application, adjustment of status request, or work authorization case, your case is now on administrative hold pending USCIS’s review of document authenticity and country conditions.
The court declaration signals that USCIS is applying heightened scrutiny to all Nigerian-origin documentation—birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, educational credentials, police clearances, and government-issued identity documents. Even documents that appear facially valid may face challenges or requests for certified originals, authentication through the U.S. embassy, or submission of alternative evidence.
This is not a blanket denial policy, but a processing pause tied to systemic concerns about document reliability and official corruption. Practitioners should expect longer timelines and more document requests (RFEs) for Nigerian cases. The holding applies regardless of whether your client obtained documents directly from Nigerian agencies or through intermediaries.
Way forward
- Audit your pending Nigerian cases immediately. Identify all clients with applications in USCIS adjudication and flag them for potential delays.
- Gather alternative or corroborating evidence now. Do not rely on a single Nigerian document. Pursue U.S. embassy records, school transcripts from foreign educational institutions, consular correspondence, affidavits from third parties, or any evidence that creates a paper trail independent of Nigerian government agencies.
- Prepare supplemental submissions preemptively. If an RFE arrives requesting document authentication or asking why you’re relying on Nigerian government records, have a response ready that explains your client’s limited ability to obtain alternative documentation and why the documents you submitted are reliable despite systemic concerns.
- Consult with a licensed immigration attorney on your specific facts. The USCIS policy does not apply uniformly—humanitarian cases, immediate relatives, and cases with independent U.S.-based corroboration may receive different handling.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Fola is a software company, not a law firm. The policy described above is subject to change without notice, and individual case outcomes depend on facts unique to each applicant. You should consult a licensed immigration attorney licensed in your jurisdiction before taking any action based on this article. Verify all information against the primary source linked above and any official USCIS guidance that may have been issued after the publication date of this article.