A reduction in visa charges payable by United States citizens has been approved by the Federal Government, from $180 to $150.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, had been directed to implement the reduction with effect from Thursday (today) as explained on Wednesday by Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
The reciprocity fee will be charged in addition to the non-immigrant visa application fee, also known as the Machine Readable Visa fee, which all applicants pay at the time of application.
The reciprocity fee will be applicable to all approved applications for non-immigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications, noting that Nigerian citizens whose applications for non-immigrant visas were denied would, however, not be charged the new reciprocity fee. Also, both reciprocity and MRV fees were non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification.
It is important to note that this development followed after the announcement of the new visa fees by the US government.
The US government has since 2018 requested that the Nigerian government change the fees charged US citizens for certain visa categories.
After non compliance from the Nigerian government, The US government, announced that Nigerian citizens applying for United States’ visas will be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, with effect from August 29.
“The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has approved the decrease of visa charges payable by the US citizens in line with reciprocity policy as recommended by the committee.
“Accordingly, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has been directed to implement the decrease in Nigeria’s visa charges to the US Citizens with effect from August, 29, 2019.” as expressed in a statement by the Ministry of Interior spokesman, Mohammed Manga.
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