The US Increases Visa Fees For Nigerians (Full Statement)

The US Embassy Nigeria, in a stunning move, has announced increased visa application fees for Nigerians, effective August 29. In the wake of time when Nigerians are feeling ripped off by visa fees, hoping there could be downward review, especially for the US, it’s not good news.

This afternoon, the US Mission in Nigeria issued a statement on that. Below is the full statement and table indicating the exact amount changed in each in each category of visa application.

REVISED VISA RECIPROCITY SCHEDULE FOR NIGERIA: Effective worldwide on 29 August, Nigerian citizens will be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, for all approved applications for nonimmigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications. The reciprocity fee will be charged in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, which all applicants pay at the time of application. Nigerian citizens whose applications for a nonimmigrant visa are denied will not be charged the new reciprocity fee. Both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification.

U.S. law requires U.S. visa fees and validity periods to be based on the treatment afforded to U.S. citizens by foreign governments, insofar as possible. Visa issuance fees are implemented under the principle of reciprocity: when a foreign government imposes additional visa fees on U.S. citizens, the United States will impose reciprocal fees on citizens of that country for similar types of visas. Nationals of a number of countries worldwide are currently required to pay this type of fee after their nonimmigrant visa application is approved.

The total cost for a U.S. citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria is currently higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States. The new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference.

Since early 2018, the U.S. government has engaged the Nigerian government to request that the Nigerian government change the fees charged to U.S. citizens for certain visa categories. After eighteen months of review and consultations, the government of Nigeria has not changed its fee structure for U.S. citizen visa applicants, requiring the U.S. Department of State to enact new reciprocity fees in accordance with our visa laws.

The reciprocity fee will be required for all Nigerian citizens worldwide, regardless of where they are applying for a nonimmigrant visa to the United States. The reciprocity fee is required for each visa that is issued, which means both adults and minors whose visa applications are approved will be charged the reciprocity fee. The fee can only be paid at the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General. The reciprocity fee cannot be paid at banks or any other location.

Below is the table of the complete reciprocity visa fees and their classifications.

What this means is that Nigerians will be paying about (nonrefundable) N100, 000 per visa application. In the light of recent event involving 80 Nigerians who were arrested in the US for wire fraud, many believe that the timing is suggesting reprisal and indicating stricter visa measures to discourage visa application.

But there is so much revenue in it for the US to make this notion true. There is also only one way to find out what the true intention is: if the Nigerian Government reverses its visa application fees to commiserate the original rates, and the US Government fails to do the same. Meanwhile, it’s burden that has been placed on many Nigerian dreams.

Class – Reciprocity fee

B1 – $110

B2 – $110

B1/B2 – $110

F1 – $110

F2 – $110

H1B/H4 -$180

I – $210

L1/ L2 – $303

R1 / R2 – $80