The United States government has announced that starting March 1, 2023, Nigerians who want to enter the United States temporarily for business and tourism purposes will now be able to get their visas valid for 60 months instead of the previous 24 months.
This move is aimed at promoting tourism and business opportunities between the two countries and enhancing mutual understanding, Investors King understands.
This development was disclosed in a press statement released by the US Consulate General on Monday. The statement also noted that the visa application fee, which is currently $160, will remain the same despite the increased validity period.
According to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the new visa reciprocity policy for citizens of the United States of America was directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, following the approval of the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the two governments.
The agreements include the reciprocity of five-year tourist visa validity for American citizens pursuant to Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015, and the extension of visa validity to three years for diplomats and government officials between Nigeria and the United States.
The statement by the US Consulate further assured Nigerians that the United States is committed to reducing visa appointment wait times in Nigeria, and the increased visa validity is just one of several initiatives taken to achieve this goal.
The US Mission in Nigeria also offers No-Interview Visa Renewals to those who meet the eligibility criteria, and appointments for this service are readily available.
To be eligible for No-Interview Visa Renewals, applicants must meet the following criteria: they must be physically present in Nigeria, their previous visa must have been issued in Nigeria and must be in the same classification as their current application, their previous visa must have been a full-validity, multiple-entry visa, and their previous visa must have expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next 3 months from the date of application.
Additionally, applicants must have all their passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa, and they must not have been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if they later received a waiver or pardon.