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The United States has announced a significant change to its visa policy for Nigerian citizens, reducing the validity period and entry allowance for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas.
In a statement released on Tuesday, July 8, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria stated that affected visa categories will now be limited to a single entry and a validity of just three months. The new policy takes immediate effect, although visas issued prior to July 8 will remain valid under their original terms.
According to the embassy, the adjustment is part of the U.S. government’s global visa reciprocity process, which seeks to align U.S. visa rules with those that American citizens face in other countries.
The embassy noted that visa policies are reviewed regularly and may be further adjusted based on compliance with reciprocity standards. Nigeria, it said, still needs to meet specific criteria to improve its standing, including issuing secure travel documents with verifiable identities, managing visa overstays more effectively, and sharing security and criminal record information with U.S. authorities.
“The U.S. Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria,” the statement read.
Despite the stricter rules, the embassy reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic and people-to-people ties with Nigeria.
Separately, the embassy also advised applicants for F, M, and J visa categories—typically issued to students and exchange visitors—to set their social media profiles to public. This is part of enhanced vetting procedures aimed at verifying applicants’ identities and determining their admissibility under U.S. immigration law.
