- The U.S. mission in Nigeria filed a complaint about high visa fees.
- Nigerians expressed concerns about paying fees without the guaranteed application approval.
- The mission clarification says that the visa fee is non-refundable and cannot be transferred.
The U.S. mission in Nigeria has responded to widespread complaints from Nigerians about paying premium visa fees without any guarantee that their application will be approved.
According to a statement shared on its official X account and on the U.S. State Department website, the mission explains that visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, but each application is subject to a thorough and impartial review.
“We understand concerns about the U.S. visa application fee,” the notice said. “Like most countries, these fees cover the cost of processing applications, regardless of the outcome. Each application is carefully and fairly evaluated. To improve opportunities, be diligently prepared and rely on the official resources available on our website.”
background
In May, the U.S. State Department updated its global fee schedule for non-immigrant visas, a revision that also affected Nigerian applicants. Adjustments affect almost all major visa categories, including business and tourism (B-1/B-2), students (F and M), exchange visitors (J), temporary workers (H), and investment-related visas (E-1 and E-2).
Under the revised structure, the cost of a visitor visa remains the most popular option for business or tourism travel in Nigeria, rising to $185. The same amount applies to transit (C-1), crew (D), student (F and M), exchange visitors (J), media (I), trafficking victims (T) and crime victims (U) visas. Temporary worker visas such as H, L (in-company transfer), O (extraordinary competence), P (athlete/artist), Q (cultural exchange) and R (religious worker) increase to $205.
The fiance (E) visa (K) is now priced at $265, while the Treaty Merchant and Investor Visa (E-1/E-2) and Australian Professional Professional Visa (E-3) are priced at $315.
Other requirements
Since July, most Nigerian citizens applying for a US non-immigrant visa have been limited to a single visa, valid for three months, replacing the previous policy of longer or more entries.
Applicants in the F, M and J categories are also required to publicly see their social media profiles and to disclose all usernames or handles used in their DS-160 applications over the past five years. The State Council said the measure helped conduct national security screening, and failure to provide accurate information could affect eligibility.
