U.S Extends Tourist Visa Validity for Nigerians to Five Years

The United States have increased the visitor/tourist visa validity for Nigerians, from 24 months to 60 months said a statement by the US Consulate General on Monday.

The new policy will be effective from Wednesday March 1, 2023, the statement said. According to the statement “the visa validity extension allows Nigerians to use the visa for 60 months to make short trips to the United States for tourism or business purposes before having to renew their visa.”

The statement which was released on Monday, 27 February said the visa application fee will not increase. “The visa application fee, currently USD160, will not increase as a result of the increased visa validity.”

The consulate said increasing visa validity is “one of several initiatives taken by the United States to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria.” The statement also said the “U.S. Mission continues to offer No-Interview Visa Renewals to those who meet the eligibility criteria.”

The statement reiterated that appointments for NO-Interview Visa Renewals are readily available. Nigerians may be eligible if “application is for a B1/B2, F, M, J, (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa.”

Also, applicants must be “physically present in Nigeria, the previous visa was issued in Nigeria and is the same classification as the current application. The previous visa was a full-validity, multiple-entry visa and expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next three months from the date of application.”

The applicants must have “all passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa. You must never have been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if you later received a waiver or pardon.”

“You have never worked without authorization or remained beyond your permitted time in the United States.” The statement also informed applicants that processing time are expected to be up to two months and they will not be able to retrieve their passports during that time.

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