Processing of United States Visa is billed to cost a little more for Nigerians planning to USA for leisure or business. They will pay almost N100,000 to procure an entry visa, an extra N40,700 from what was hitherto charged by US embassies around the world.
Other visa categories attract various extra processing costs, some as high as N110,000 more.
The extra N40,700 tourism and other category costs for processing US visas however apply only to those who are successful at their visa interviews and has been made a condition for being issued with the travel stamp.
The United States Embassy in Abuja explained in a statement that the hikes are in retaliation for the disproportionately high processing fees that Nigerian embassies charge American citizens who wish to come to Nigeria.
The new regime of higher visa fees takes effect from this Thursday, 29 August 2019, and will affect every Nigerian who shows up looking for United States entry visa at any US embassy anywhere in the world.
The statement, posted on the US Nigeria Embassy website, reads as follows:
“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.
“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 GTB banks or any other location. ONLY CASH PAYMENT (USD or Naira) WILL BE ACCEPTED.”
Author
