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The short answer
A Western Union transfer under review or on hold usually means Western Union is verifying your identity, confirming other details, waiting for your bank, or waiting for more information from you. Western Union says it contacts you if a transfer is delayed, and to call 1-800-325-6000 with your MTCN if the status shows In Progress for more than 48 hours. It may ask you to confirm your identity or send documents such as a driver's licence or passport.
Seeing "under review" or "on hold" on a Western Union transfer to Nigeria is unsettling, but it is common and usually resolved once you answer a question or two. This guide sets out what Western Union's US help pages say as at October 2026, what you may be asked for and how it tends to end.
The reasons Western Union gives
Western Union's FAQ on holds and delays lists four reasons:
- "We're verifying your identity."
- "We are confirming other details."
- "Your bank is reviewing your transfer."
- "We're waiting for more information from you."
It says that to avoid further delay you can contact it with your tracking number (MTCN), and that if the status shows In Progress for more than 48 hours you should contact it. Its customer care number is 1-800-325-6000. Western Union also says that if your transfer is delayed it will contact you using the details you gave when you sent it.
What you may be asked for
Western Union's identity FAQ says federal law requires it to obtain, verify and record information that identifies its customers, and that it may ask you to confirm or reverify your identity or provide documents such as a copy of a driver's licence or passport. Other common requests across US providers include:
- your full legal name, address, date of birth and phone number;
- the purpose of the transfer and your relationship to the recipient;
- where the money came from, such as a payslip or bank statement;
- confirmation of the recipient's name and account details.
Our guides to source of funds requests and sanctions screening holds explain two common triggers.
Typical outcomes
| Outcome | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Released | The check is satisfied and the transfer goes on to Nigeria |
| More information requested | You need to answer or upload something before it can proceed |
| Cancelled | The check could not be completed; ask Western Union how and when you will be refunded |
Western Union's pages we read do not state a refund timeline for a cancelled transfer, so ask customer care and keep a note of the date and what you were told.
When the review is protecting you
Reviews also exist to catch fraud. Western Union's US Nigeria page links to its own fraud awareness pages for this reason. If you are sending to someone you have not met in person, to pay for a prize, a job, a loan fee or an emergency you cannot verify, or because someone told you what to say to Western Union, stop. A hold is your chance to reconsider. Our guide to scams targeting Nigerians in the US lists the patterns.
Your rights
Under the CFPB's remittance rule you can cancel a covered transfer free within 30 minutes of paying if it has not been picked up or deposited, and you can report an error, such as money not arriving by the disclosed date, within 180 days. A delay for a legitimate compliance check can affect the date the money is available; ask Western Union what date now applies.
Worked example
Example only. Obinna in Chicago sends $3,500 online to a new recipient, a builder in Owerri. The status shows In Progress the next day. He calls 1-800-325-6000 with his MTCN. Western Union asks him to confirm his identity and the purpose of the payment. He sends a copy of his driver's licence through the channel Western Union gives him, explains it is a deposit for building work, and has the builder's invoice ready. The transfer is released the following day.
Making a review less likely next time
Nothing guarantees a transfer will not be checked, but some habits help. Keep your Western Union profile up to date with your legal name and current address, matching your ID. Use the same name format for your recipient each time, exactly as on their ID or bank account. For a larger or unusual payment, such as a property deposit or a wedding contribution, have the invoice or a short explanation ready before you send. Avoid splitting one large payment into several small ones to stay under a threshold; providers look for that pattern, and it tends to draw more questions, not fewer. And if you will need the money to arrive on a set date, send early enough to allow for a check.
Steps
- Check your email and phone for a message from Western Union.
- If the status has been In Progress for more than 48 hours, call 1-800-325-6000 with your MTCN.
- Answer questions accurately; do not let anyone else tell you what to say.
- Send documents only through Western Union's own channels.
- Keep your receipt and a log of every call.
If your recipient is waiting at a pickup point, see MTCN not paid in Nigeria.
Where Pryme fits
For keeping records of payments you make in Nigeria, Pryme can produce verifiable receipts and statements through VerifyDoc.ai; see receipts. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are provided through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
Why is my Western Union transfer on hold?
Western Union lists identity verification, confirming other details, your bank's review, or waiting for more information from you.
How long does a Western Union review take?
Western Union does not give a fixed time; it says to contact it if the status shows In Progress for more than 48 hours.
What documents might Western Union ask for?
Its FAQ mentions confirming your identity and documents such as a copy of a driver's licence or passport.
What is Western Union's customer care number?
Western Union's US FAQ lists 1-800-325-6000.
Sources
- Why is my money transfer on hold or delayed?, Western Union FAQ · accessed Oct 2026
- Help with transfers, Western Union FAQ · accessed Oct 2026
- Identity verification, Western Union FAQ · accessed Oct 2026
- Send money to Nigeria, Western Union US · accessed Oct 2026
- What is a remittance transfer and what are my rights?, CFPB · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.