US Visa Policy Update: Ambassador Urges Nigerians to Comply with New Rules

• The United States has revised its visa policy for Nigerian applicants, reducing validity for certain categories to three months with single entry
• Officials clarified the move is part of a global security review and not a punitive measure
• Nigerians are urged to comply with visa regulations to maintain strong bilateral ties and avoid serious consequences

The United States has clarified its recent decision to reduce the validity of certain non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerian citizens, stating that the move is not punitive but part of a broader global security review aimed at strengthening immigration controls.

Speaking at a joint press briefing on Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills said the revised visa reciprocity schedule affects applicants in the B1/B2 (business and tourism), F (student), and J (exchange visitor) categories. Under the new policy, affected visas will now be valid for three months with single entry.

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Mr Mills explained that the changes were introduced to enhance service delivery, tighten vetting procedures, and ensure compliance with U.S. immigration laws.

“We needed to address some of the security vulnerabilities that we saw in our visa processing,” he said, adding that the Nigerian government is working to provide better access to criminal records to support more rigorous background checks.

Nigeria-US relations remain strong despite visa changes

The ambassador emphasised that the United States continues to value its “very strong relationship” with Nigeria and remains committed to welcoming Nigerian citizens for study, business, tourism, medical visits, and family reunions.

Minister of Information and National Orientation Idris Mohammed echoed this sentiment, stating that the policy shift was not intended as punishment.

“Before coming to this office, we had engagements with Ambassador Mills, and what he has told me is that this is in no way punitive. It’s just to enhance service delivery between the two countries,” Mr Mohammed said.

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Both officials stressed the importance of mutual respect and compliance with visa regulations. Mr Mills warned that misuse of visas—such as overstaying or providing false information—could result in deportation and a lifetime travel ban.

“Visa compliance is a cornerstone of mutual trust and respect between our two nations,” he said.

Student visa compliance highlighted

The ambassador also cautioned Nigerian students in the U.S. to adhere strictly to the terms of their visas. “If you skip classes, if you leave your programme of study without informing your school, your student visa could be revoked,” he said.

He urged applicants to be honest and transparent during the visa process and to rely on the U.S. Embassy’s official website for accurate information.

“If you have any questions about our visa regulations or policies, don’t hesitate to go to our website. All Nigerians have access to it,” Mr Mills advised.

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Mr Mohammed commended the U.S. Embassy for directly engaging with Nigerians to clarify the changes and reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to public awareness. He called on citizens to uphold legal standards both at home and abroad.

“Nigerians must continue to demonstrate, as they do, a better sense of patriotism about their country and also show better compliance with not just our laws, but laws of other countries,” he said.

US embassy moves to new service provider

Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States Mission in Nigeria has unveiled a new service provider for Nigerians. The announcement which was made public on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday showed that, with the new service provider, applicants can apply for their visas as well as book appointments.

Other services include: payment of visa application fee, and account creation.Other services include: payment of visa application fee, and account creation.

Source: Legit.ng