By Vera Sam Anyagafu

The office of the Public Affairs Department of  the US Consulate in Lagos has stated that effective August 29,, 2019, Nigerian citizens worldwide  will be required to pay a visa issuance fee, or reciprocity fee, for all approved applications for nonimmigrant visas in B, F, H1B, I, L, and R visa classifications.

Visa

The reciprocity fee according to  statement will be charged in addition to the nonimmigrant visa application fee, also known as the MRV fee, which all applicants pay at the time of application, adding that Nigerian citizens whose applications for a nonimmigrant visa are denied will not be charged the new reciprocity fee.  Both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary based on visa classification.

“US law requires US visa fees and validity periods to be based on the treatment afforded to US citizens by foreign governments, insofar as possible.  Visa issuance fees are implemented under the principle of reciprocity: when a foreign government imposes additional visa fees on US citizens, the United States will impose reciprocal fees on citizens of that country for similar types of visas.  Nationals of a number of countries worldwide are currently required to pay this type of fee after their nonimmigrant visa application is approved”, statement reads also

Trump ‘ordered’ US companies to quit China(Opens in a new browser tab)

It went further to state that the total cost for a US citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria is currently higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States and that  the new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference.

“Since early 2018, the US. government has engaged the Nigerian government to request that the Nigerian government change the fees charged to US citizens for certain visa categories.  After eighteen months of review and consultations, the government of Nigeria has not changed its fee structure for US. citizen visa applicants, requiring the US. Department of State to enact new reciprocity fees in accordance with our visa laws.

The reciprocity fee will be required for all Nigerian citizens worldwide, regardless of where they are applying for a nonimmigrant visa to the United States.”

“The reciprocity fee is required for each visa that is issued, which means both adults and minors whose visa applications are approved will be charged the reciprocity fee.  The fee can only be paid at the US Embassy or the US  Consulate General.