The USA has introduced sweeping modifications to its non-immigrant visa coverage for Nigeria, chopping the period and situations underneath which most Nigerian travellers can enter the nation.
From 8 July, the US Division of State says practically all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian residents will now be single-entry and legitimate for under three months.
It says that is a part of a worldwide reciprocity realignment, a pointy shift from earlier visa phrases, which frequently allowed for a number of entries over two years or extra.
Nigeria additionally provides single-entry visas legitimate for 3 months just for these planning to go to the nation from the US.
The Nigerian authorities has not but commented.
The State Division says visa insurance policies stay “topic to ongoing evaluation” and will change relying on evolving diplomatic, safety, and immigration benchmarks.
In an announcement, the US authorities stated it was working carefully with Nigerian authorities to make sure the nation meets key worldwide requirements.
These embody:
- issuing safe journey paperwork
- managing visa overstays
- sharing safety or felony information for public security functions
The US additionally ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners making use of for visas, together with from Nigeria, could be vetted for “any indications of hostility towards the residents, tradition, authorities, establishments, or founding rules of america”.
Nigeria was the seventh largest supply of worldwide college students to the US, and the best in Africa, in accordance with the 2024 Open Doorways report on worldwide training exchanges.
The report printed by the US division of state, bureau of academic and cultural affairs confirmed a 13.5% improve from 2023.
An aide to former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari stated he believed the US was not reciprocating however displaying its displeasure with Nigeria.
Bashir Ahmad posted on X that President Bola Tinubu‘s current go to to Brazil for the Brics gathering was behind the transfer.
“This isn’t solely about reciprocity. Moderately, it seems to mirror rising US discomfort with Nigeria’s rising world realignment, significantly the nice and cozy reception we’re receiving from the Brics,” he wrote.
Immigration lawyer Godwin Oke thinks in a different way and instructed the BBC: “This can be a basic case of visa reciprocity underneath worldwide diplomatic apply. Nations usually align their visa phrases to mirror mutual therapy.
“The US had been issuing Nigerians five-year multiple-entry visas, whereas Nigeria solely supplied People short-term, single-entry visas. From a coverage standpoint, it was solely a matter of time earlier than the imbalance was addressed.”
In March this yr, the US mission in Nigeria issued a stern warning, saying overstaying a visa might result in a everlasting journey ban and potential felony prosecution.
There is no such thing as a official information displaying the variety of Nigerian travellers to the US who overstay their visas.
However Nigerians are fearful that the quantity who get visas will fall underneath President Donald Trump’s powerful immigration insurance policies.
Many younger Nigerians want to depart the nation in what is known as Japa (Japa means escape within the Yoruba language) and the US stays one of the vital fascinating locations.
