U.S. reduces non-immigrant visa validity for Nigerians to single entry, 3 months

The United States government has announced a significant change to its visa policy for Nigerian citizens, reducing the validity of most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas to a single entry with a three-month duration.

The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria made the announcement in a statement released on Monday, stating that the new policy takes immediate effect.

“Effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period,” the Embassy said.

However, the Embassy clarified that all visas issued before July 8, 2025, will remain valid according to the original terms under which they were issued.

The policy revision follows a routine review under the U.S. visa reciprocity framework, which allows for adjustments to visa validity and entry permissions based on mutual agreements and international standards.

“Visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity,” the statement added.

The U.S. government emphasized that the decision is rooted in efforts to maintain global security standards and uphold the integrity of its immigration system.

The Embassy listed key benchmarks guiding visa policies, including:

Secure Travel Documents: Ensuring the authenticity and security of identity documents.

Visa Overstay Management: Implementing measures to reduce the rate of visa overstays.

Information Sharing: Promoting the exchange of security-related data, including criminal records.

Acknowledging Nigeria’s progress, the U.S. Mission noted ongoing engagements with Nigerian immigration and security agencies to resolve outstanding issues.

“We commend the ongoing efforts by the Government of Nigeria’s immigration and security agencies to meet standards of international best practices,” the statement said.

Nigerian travelers were urged to comply strictly with visa terms and ensure the authenticity of their travel documents.

Despite the changes, the Embassy reaffirmed America’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Nigeria, especially in education, trade, and cultural exchanges.

“The United States remains a committed partner in deepening people-to-people ties with Nigeria. We look forward to continued cooperation at all levels,” the statement concluded.