By YANGE IKYAA

The United States Mission in Nigeria has increased visitor visa validity for Nigerians from 24 months to 60 months, which corresponds to a 36-month extension.

This new visa policy, effective from March 1, 2023, is meant for Nigerians who want to enter the United States temporarily for business and/or tourism. 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 seek renewal.

The visa application fee, which is currently USD160, will not increase as a result of the increased visa validity.

A statement sent by the United Embassy to The Africanscholar said that “increasing visa validity is one of several initiatives taken by the United States to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria. The U.S. Mission continues to offer No-Interview Visa Renewals to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Appointments for No-Interview Visa Renewals are readily available.”

Some individuals may be eligible for visa renewals without interviews if their applications are for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa, but such persons must meet certain criteria.

The criteria require people seeking visa renewal to be physically present in Nigeria and their previous visa is also required to have been issued in Nigeria, while the previous visa must be in the same classification as the current application.

In addition, the previous visa must have been a full-validity, multiple-entry visa, with the previous visa expired within the last 48 months or due to expire in the next 3 months from the date of application.

Applicants must also have all passports covering the entire period since receiving the previous visa and the passport with the most recent visa, with a proof that they have never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if they later received a waiver or pardon.

Furthermore, those applying for visa renewal must have never worked without authorization or remained beyond their permitted time in the United States.