Reciprocity Policy: US extends visa validity to 5 years for Nigerians

*The United States Mission in Nigeria discloses the American country will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for consumers, effective from March 1, 2023, in line with the visa reciprocity policy of the West African country

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Beginning from March 1, 2023, the United States (US) Mission in Nigeria has disclosed it will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerian consumers.

ConsumerConnect reports the American country in a statement issued Monday, February 27, 2023, noted the extension of the visa validity is meant for Nigerians who desire to enter the US temporarily, for business and/or tourism.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior

The visa validity extension is expected to allow Nigerians to use the visa for two months to make short trips to the United States for tourism or business purposes before having to renew their visa.

Nigeria’s Visa Reciprocity Policy

This development was contained in a statement the US Consulate General issued  Monday, February 27, 2023.

It is recalled the Federal Government of Nigeria had directed the full implementation of a new visa reciprocity policy for citizens of the US with effect from March 1 this year.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior, said the directive was issued following approval for the implementation of the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the two governments.

Aregbesola noted the agreements among, others, include the reciprocity of five-year tourist visa validity for American Citizens pursuant to Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015; Extension of visa validity to three years for diplomats and government officials between the citizens of Nigeria and the United States.

The American Embassy in the country said the visa application fee, currently at USD160, will not increase as a result of the increased visa validity.

Increasing visa validity is one of several initiatives taken by the United States to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria.

The US Mission continues to offer ‘No-Interview Visa Renewals’ to Nigerians who meet the eligibility criteria.

Appointments for No-Interview Visa Renewals are readily available.

About ‘No-Interview Visa Renewal’

The US Mission further explained that Nigerians might be eligible for an American visa renewal without an interview, if a person is applying for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa, and such an applicant meets each of the following criteria:

• You are physically present in Nigeria.
• Your previous visa was issued in Nigeria.
• Your previous visa is in the same classification as your current application.
• Your previous visa was a full-validity, multiple-entry visa.
• Your previous visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application.
• You have all your passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa.
• You have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon.
• You have never worked without authorisation or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.

Check Web site at https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/ for further information.

If you are qualified based on the above criteria, visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng to start your application.

The processing times for the programme are expected to be up to two months, and a visa applicant will not be able to retrieve his/her passport during the time.

Each applicant must individually meet the criteria; minors can apply without an interview only if they meet the eligibility criteria on their own, stated the Mission.

Emergency appointments

If an applicant has a life-or-death emergency, he/she may request an expedited, in-person interview; however, to accommodate No-Interview Visa Renewals, appointments will be very limited, report said.

However, business travel, conferences, weddings, and graduations are not considered emergencies. If you have an emergency and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng or +234-1-227-8955 to request an emergency appointment.

Special Note:  Third parties unaffiliated with US Embassy Abuja and Consulate General, in Lagos, may seek to take advantage of various visa services to target visa applicants with fraudulent offers or claims.

Applicants should fill out their own forms and make their appointments themselves via the official Web sites.

As future opportunities for Interview Waiver appointments become available, they will be communicated via our Web site, according to the US Embassy.

Remember to rely on information only from genuine sources: https://travel.state.gov,  https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/, and https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng.

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