The United States has announced an increase in visitor visa validity for Nigerians, extending it from 24 months to 60 months, effective March 1, 2023. This information was shared in a press statement released by the U.S. Consulate General on Monday. The announcement follows the directive from the Federal Government of Nigeria, which has mandated the full implementation of a new visa reciprocity policy for U.S. citizens starting on the same date. Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola explained that this directive was issued after the approval of new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the two governments.
These agreements include several key provisions, such as the reciprocity of five-year tourist visa validity for American citizens, in accordance with Section 30 of the Immigration Act of 2015. Additionally, the visa validity for diplomats and government officials from both nations will be extended to three years. The U.S. Consulate’s statement also confirmed that the visa application fee will remain unchanged at USD 160 despite the increase in visa validity.
The extension of visa validity allows Nigerians to use their visas for 60 months, facilitating short trips to the United States for tourism or business purposes without the need for renewal during that period. Furthermore, the U.S. Mission is implementing various initiatives to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria, including offering No-Interview Visa Renewals for eligible applicants. Appointments for these renewals are readily available.
To qualify for a No-Interview Visa Renewal, applicants must meet specific criteria. They must be physically present in Nigeria, have their previous visa issued in Nigeria, and ensure that their previous visa is in the same classification as their current application. Additionally, the previous visa must have been a full-validity, multiple-entry visa that expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next three months. Applicants must also possess all passports covering the period since receiving the previous visa and the passport containing the most recent visa. Furthermore, they should have no arrests or convictions in the United States, nor should they have worked without authorization or overstayed their permitted time in the country.
For more information, applicants can visit the U.S. Embassy’s website at https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/. It is important to note that processing times for the No-Interview Visa Renewal program may take up to two months, during which applicants will not be able to retrieve their passports. Each applicant must meet the eligibility criteria individually, and minors can apply without an interview only if they satisfy the criteria on their own.
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