US cuts visa validity for most Nigerian applicants

The United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most Nigerian travellers can enter the country.

As from 8 July, the US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three months.

It says this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more.

Nigeria also offers single-entry visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US.

The Nigerian government has not yet commented.

The State Department says visa policies remain "subject to ongoing review" and may change depending on evolving diplomatic, security, and immigration benchmarks.

In a statement, the US government said it was working closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure the country meets key international standards.

These include:

• issuing secure travel documents
• managing visa overstays
• sharing security or criminal data for public safety purposes

The US also ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners applying for visas, including from Nigeria, would be vetted for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States".

Nigerians account for one of the highest number of student-visa applications to the US in the world.

According to the 2024 Open Doors report on international education exchange, Nigeria was the seventh largest source of international students globally to the US and the highest in Africa, with 20,029 enrollees.

The report published by the US department of state, bureau of educational and cultural affairs showed a 13.5 percent increase from 2023.

Reacting to the cut, former president Muhammadu Buhari’s aide said he believes US is not reciprocating but showing discomfort with Nigeria.

Bashir Ahmad whose post on X generated conversation on the topic is of the opinion that President Bola Tinubu‘s recent visit to Brazil for the BRICS gathering was behind the move.

“This is not solely about reciprocity. Rather, it appears to reflect growing US discomfort with Nigeria's increasing global realignment, particularly the warm reception we are receiving from the BRICS,” he wrote.