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Effective from 1st March 2023, Nigerians who want to visit the United States of America temporarily for business and/or tourism can get a visitor visa with a validity of 60 months.
Effective from 1st March 2023, Nigerians who want to visit the United States of America temporarily for business and/or tourism can get a visitor visa with a validity of 60 months. Earlier, it used to be 24 months validity. The revised rule was disclosed by the US Consulate General in a press release. The visa application fee, however, remains the same at USD160, despite the increase in visa validity. The decision is part of several initiatives taken by the United States to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria.
The statement added that U.S. Mission continues to offer No-Interview Visa Renewals to those who meet the eligibility criteria. It also informed that appointments for No-Interview Visa Renewals are readily available.
There are specific criteria for a visa renewal without an interview under the categories such as a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa. These include a physical presence in Nigeria with a previous visa issued in Nigeria in the same category, a previous visa has a full-validity, multiple-entry visa and it expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application, no record of overstay. and so on. The processing time was estimated to be around two months and the passport cannot be retrieved during that time. The Mission advised applicants to visit its website
Also Read;
https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/ for further information.
http://trendsnafrica.com/us-imposes-visa-bans-on-individuals-who-disrupted-nigerian-elections/
The revised visa validity came into effect following the signing of a new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreement between the two governments. The Federal Government of Nigeria also has directed the full implementation of a new visa reciprocity policy for citizens of the United States of America with effect from March 1, 2023.
